With labor shortages being reported across Missouri, the state legislature is considering policy to help get unemployed Missourians back into the workforce sooner. The proposed change would create a sliding scale for jobless benefits, tying the length of benefits to the unemployment rate. The language is contained in both Senate Bill 665 and House Bill […]
Read More »Retail theft is becoming more common, says Sen. Rick Brattin. “It’s a pretty rampant situation. My daughter — she’s my second oldest daughter, she’s 18 — works at a retail store. And she says it’s just mind blowing to see [how] people will come into these stores, [take] literally armfuls of [merchandise] and walk out […]
Read More »In today’s tight labor market, more employers are turning to alternative talent pools to fill jobs — including justice-involved individuals. Keeping a job has been shown to greatly reduce recidivism. Research shows that previously incarcerated people are much less likely to re-offend when they have stable, full-time employment. For example, recidivism rates were nearly cut […]
Read More »With Missouri’s childcare shortage costing the state an estimated $1.35 billion, lawmakers are continuing to advance an innovative budget proposal to help parents re-enter the workforce. The budget passed by the Missouri Senate on April 26 establishes new funding to help private employers form partnerships with childcare providers or establish new dedicated childcare centers to […]
Read More »The state budget process continued in a Missouri Senate committee this week with lawmakers considering several important pro-business appropriations. Funding proposals under consideration include: Onshoring industries that are vital to national security. Improving employee retention via improved access to childcare. Support for computer science job training. Fully restored Missouri River Runner Amtrak service. Enhancing Missouri’s […]
Read More »The Missouri House of Representatives has passed an egregious, anti-business bill that seeks to benefit trial attorneys at the expense of Missouri’s job creators. House Bill 1692 would create the grounds for a potential flood of lawsuits in Missouri, allowing trial attorneys to target businesses over employer vaccination policies. The bill is sponsored by Rep. […]
Read More »Missouri has recovered more than 95 percent of the jobs lost during the COVID-19 pandemic, according to the Missouri Chamber’s latest quarterly economic report. Ted Abernathy, Managing Partner of Economic Leadership LLC, said that Missouri is among those states leading in job recovery after adding back 357,200 of the jobs lost. “Ten states have made […]
Read More »Seeking to continue Missouri’s progress on utility modernization, the Missouri Senate has passed a bill with several important regulatory updates. In recent years, the Missouri Chamber of Commerce and Industry has helped pass a number of bills aimed at ensuring Missourians can continue to benefit from reliable and affordable utility services. A long-needed grid overhaul […]
Read More »On Thursday, Sen. Lincoln Hough (R-Springfield) brought his Fast Track bill before a House committee for consideration. Championed by the Missouri Chamber and passed into law in 2019, the Fast Track financial aid program addresses workforce needs by encouraging adults to pursue a certificate, degree, or industry-recognized credential in a job field designated as high […]
Read More »Legislation that would help Missouri students explore career opportunities in their communities continues to make progress in the General Assembly. On April 12 a Senate Committee heard testimony on a bill that would allow Missouri school districts to give credit toward graduation when students pursue opportunities like internships, apprenticeships and other valuable out-of-the-classroom learning experiences. […]
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