I acknowledged that in my comments, which is why I asked if anyone on the ground in North Carolina would somehow have access to other sources of info on the labor participation rate in NC since the long term benefits were shortened and reduced. I said from the start that there is naturally going to be some degree of speculation here without additional proof.
Does anyone have other info on this other than speculation, at least when it comes to NC and neighboring states?
When John Engler was Gov. of Michigan, between 1991 and 2003, he managed to get some legislation passed that tested people on welfare and those found to be fit to work were taken off the welfare roles.
People who were fit to work found jobs or went back to school. A neighbor of mine, who had been on welfare and was kicked off, later told me that getting kicked off welfare was the best thing that ever happened to her. She went back to school and got a job.
Until she was kicked off welfare she never thought about working for a living. Imagine that.
Does anyone have other info on this other than speculation,
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I suspect it will take a few months to get some data beyond speculation..
http://blog.heritage.org/2014/01/06/examining-north-carolinas-falling-unemployment-rate/