President Joe Biden and Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen on May 7 sought to fend off claims that the enhanced unemployment boost was creating a disincentive for people to take jobs, after a wave of criticism to that effect following the disappointing May 7 employment report, which showed a sharp slowdown in hiring despite job openings at near-record levels.
Biden was asked at a press conference on May 7 whether the federal $300 weekly jobless benefit top-up—above and beyond what states provide—had any effect on diminishing a return to work.
