Pandemic unemployment assistance programs end Saturday

The last week to claim for Pandemic Unemployment Assistance ends tomorrow, Sept. 4.

PUA, along with the federal pandemic unemployment compensation program, has paid out more than $800 million to thousands of local residents who lost jobs or had their hours cut because of COVID.

Guam labor director, David Dell'Isola, was tasked by the governor last year to stand up the island's first-ever unemployment assistance program, in the face of a pandemic, with little time to spare.

"Looking back, I don't know how I did it with our staff standing up this whole thing and managing to do it all and get it all done," he said. "It's been quite exhaustive."

Those hoping for another round of assistance shouldn't get their hopes up. 

"There doesn't look like anything being talked or kicked around as far as congress or the states as far as extending PUA," Dell'Isola said. "I mean a couple of states have thrown it out there to extend PUA but nothing took traction."

The unemployment assistance has been a huge safety net for so many people who were put out of work by the pandemic, but as it now goes away.

"It can get a little scary, you saw my unemployment report recently, we were tracking, now its 11.4 percent unemployment, which is still double digit numbers," Dell'Isola said. "All I can say is that our AJC, American Jobs Center's open, we are working as best we can with the business community, and there are jobs out there right now. I strongly encourage everyone to get those jobs available, even if it's not the job that you want."

Dell'Isola said they're there to help, but for many, it will be a reality check.

"The public has to know, the department of labor and the AJC we don't create jobs," he said. "We only are a vehicle to get you aligned to the jobs that are out there."

He said the latest surge may put a big crimp in the economic recovery, and job seekers need to respond accordingly.

"Still keep our fingers crossed that the variant will get under control, and we'll start opening again, but you need to you know, prepare for the worst and hope for the best," Dell'Isola said.