Prometheus 6

For Welfare Reform to Work, Jobs Must be Available
By Heather Boushey and David Rosnick
April 1, 2004

As Congress debates significant changes to the Personal Responsibility and Work Reconciliation Act, commonly known as welfare reform, they should take into account the hardships that higher unemployment has caused for low-income women and their families. Wanting to be off welfare is not enough; the labor market must provide employment opportunities. Although the recession was relatively brief, from March to November 2001, the labor market continued to shed jobs until late summer 2003. Since then, job growth has been paltry at best and the unemployment rate of less educated women and single female heads of households remains high.