Washington, D.C. — (ENEWSPF)–January 29, 2015. Although overall unemployment in the United States has fallen in recent years, certain populations continue to suffer disproportionate rates of unemployment, including older workers, the long-term unemployed, people with criminal records, people with disabilities, and people with limited education or work experience. These workers are often the last to be hired—even in good times—and the first to be laid off in tough times. A new report released today by the Center for American Progress proposes a national subsidized jobs program—modeled after successful initiatives implemented in states with Republican and Democratic governors alike—to improve employment opportunities for those groups disproportionately affected by unemployment. CAP’s proposal would use competitive grants to enable states to create targeted work opportunities to help unemployed workers get a foothold in the labor market.
