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Seventy-five years ago on August 14, 1935,  President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed into law the Social Security Act—a pivotal law for industry and labor. This act put into place the Unemployment Insurance program that provides weekly unemployment insurance benefits for workers who lose their job through no fault of their own.  Since then millions of North Carolinians have received unemployment benefits to help bridge their finances as they seek employment.

"The Unemployment Insurance program was created as part of the act during the depths of the Great Depression,” said US Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis in a statement marking the anniversary of the Unemployment Insurance program. “Today, as we face the most serious economic situation since that time, we are reminded of the continued importance of the assistance made available through this federal-state program.

"Beyond the benefit to individual workers, Unemployment Insurance provides an important boost to the nation's economy. Unemployment Insurance recipients spend their benefits on food, fuel, utility bills and other necessities. Every dollar that goes into the program results in $1.60 in economic output. When consumers lose jobs and cannot spend, businesses suffer. Unemployment Insurance softens the economic blow of layoffs by allowing workers to spend money in their local economies.”

It is fitting that we pause to observe the 75th anniversay of the Unemployment Insurance program and to recognize the program’s importance.  It is also important to acknowledge North Carolina’s workforce system employees, who work to deliver quality service to the citizens and customers of our state. Their work has been critical during this period of economic recovery.

This fall, the Employment Security Commission will host an official observance for the anniversary of the Unemployment Insurance program to review its significance and to discuss the program’s future.

North Carolina native and then chairman of the U.S. House Ways and Means Committee, Congressman Robert Lee "Bob" Doughton (left), oversaw the passage of the Social Security Act of 1935.  He watches as President Roosevelt signs the bill into law. 

Interests from the public and private sectors came together at the invitation of the N.C. Employment Security Commission during a recent meeting at the West Campus of Forsyth Technical Community College in Winston-Salem. An emphasis on the Piedmont Triad led to ESC Chairman Lynn Holmes inviting Roger Shackleford, executive director of Workforce Development for the N.C. Dept. of Commerce, and, Althea Hairston, Workforce Development Program director for the Northwest Council of Governments to come and present information on TriadWorks and its efforts in job creation and workforce development.

Then, Carrie Darnell, the Employee Relations manager for Renfro Corporation of Mt. Airy, gave a talk to Commissioners about the upturn her company has seen recently — which she credited to Renfro choosing months ago to diversify its product lines as the economy slowed, allowing the textile manufacturer to not only survive, but meet sales goals.