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By
NICK GOSNELL
Hutch
Post
HUTCHINSON,
Kan. — 
A Creighton University economist sees some movement in a growth direction from the unemployment claims numbers released Thursday."First time claims for unemployment insurance moving lower, continuing claims are also moving lower," said Ernie Goss. "We're moving in the right direction, but we've still got a ways to go before we get back to pre-COVID-19 levels. We're certainly moving in the right direction. I think the numbers are likely to improve even more in the weeks and months ahead."The key, though, is to incentivize people to go to work."The $600 add on to state level compensation, of course, that expired at the end of July," Goss said. "Now they're wrestling. The Democrats want to continue with the $600 add on, the Republicans want $200 added on. $200 would be at about a replacement ratio of about 70% of lost weekly income. $600, unfortunately, at least from the government standpoint, would put a lot of individuals making more by being unemployed than they would be by being employed."From an economist's standpoint, Goss likes the lower plan better."I think the $200 proposal is more in line with incentivizing individuals to take jobs out there," Goss said. "According to our surveys, and we do two surveys each month, both surveys include Kansas, companies and manufacturers for example are now even having a difficult time finding and hiring qualified workers. There are individuals that could be working that have chosen to remain unemployed."Goss doesn't think there are large numbers there, but every bit helps to make the economy more competitive.

Economist sees unemployment numbers as sign of right direction