Editorial: Laid-off workers are still in need of help

Wednesday, Jan. 2, 2002 | 8:24 a.m.

Recently there has been some good news on the economic front. Last Friday the federal government reported that for the month of November, consumer confidence was up, home sales increased and orders for big-ticket items showed big gains. And while the markets tumbled during 2001, they have rallied since Sept. 21, with the Dow Jones industrial average increasing 23 percent since its low point following the terrorist attacks.

Despite the good news, there's one economic factor that shouldn't go ignored as the new year starts: unemployment. The national unemployment rate jumped in November to 5.7 percent, its highest level in six years. In Nevada, unemployment stood at 6.5 percent, its highest rate in seven years.

So when Congress comes back this month, it should construct an economic stimulus package that provides businesses with the right incentives so that they hire back more employees; measures that are just corporate giveaways, and won't spur job creation, should be dismissed. Any economic stimulus package also should increase unemployment benefits and offer health insurance coverage for laid-off workers -- the kind of support that workers will need until a true recovery is under way.