LINCOLN- Gov. Pete Ricketts is keeping an eye on the state's unemployment rates as a handful of other Republican-led states are ending federal pandemic unemployment benefits early. That includes Iowa, as Gov. Kim Reynolds announced that she would end three programs effective June 12. She blamed those programs for discouraging people from returning to work.

U.S. Sen. Ben Sasse called for converting the additional pandemic benefits into a two-month bonus for anyone who gets a job. “Cut the spin, convert unemployment into a signing bonus, and get America and Americans up and running,” he said.

In Nebraska, Ricketts reinstated work search requirements in July. The requirements apply to workers receiving regular unemployment and the additional $300 in federal pandemic unemployment benefits.

Labor experts point to other factors that are keeping people from looking for jobs. Many women aren't searching for jobs because of the lack of child care or because of children being home taking online classes for at least part of the week. Other workers are also afraid of taking jobs in service industries that require contact with people for the fear of contracting COVID-19.

All federal programs are set to expire in September.

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