WASHINGTON - President Biden is expected to give remarks on Monday focused on the U.S. economy following a disappointing April jobs report and Republican criticism about jobless benefits.A government report out Friday showed employers added just 266,000 jobs in April, sharply lower than in March and far fewer than economists had expected.
The slowdown was attributed to a multitude of factors, including nearly 3 million people reluctant to look for work because they fear catching the virus.
Some businesses — and Republican lawmakers — also argue that a $300-a-week jobless benefit, paid for by the federal government, is discouraging some of the unemployed from taking new jobs.Biden, who is scheduled to speak at 1:15 p.m.