Job Creators Network Reacts to Weekly Unemployment Claims Report

Washington, DC – (April 23, 2020) — New data released by the Department of Labor reveals the number of first-time unemployment claims was 4.4 million last week.  During the past five weeks, more than 26 million Americans have lost their jobs.

Alfredo Ortiz, President and CEO of the Job Creators Network, released the following statement:

“I’m talking to small business owners every day and I can tell you there is a lot of pain out there. We are losing 31,000 jobs every hour of every day. This cannot go on forever. We need to start reopening our society on a state-by-state basis, consistent with public safety. The Paycheck Protection Program is a lifeline for small businesses – and it should be bolstered by an additional $311 billion soon – but it’s no solution for a true reopening of our society. The PPP is meant to be a bridge to get small businesses through the end of the lockdown. We must continue to adhere to responsible measures to help stop the spread, but if we don’t start opening the country in states that are not nearly as impacted, we won’t have a country to open up. We cannot let that happen. President Trump understands the urgency of this issue, and we hope more state and local leaders will follow in his footsteps.”