PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) -- Pennsylvania Department of Labor & Industry Secretary Jennifer Berrier was grilled on Tuesday by state lawmakers who say their offices are flooded with phone calls from people who say they can’t get through to the unemployment office.
Republican Rep. Natalie Mihalic played the sound of a busy signal to the chamber.
"I’m trying to get in touch with someone at the Department of Labor and Industry. I have been all morning. I have been for 11-months. It brings me no pleasure to play you a busy signal," she said.
Berrier said she understands the frustration, and they consider it unacceptable.
"We are working as quickly as we can to beef up our staffing. Our goal is to make sure that people can get through on the phone lines," Berrier said.
Mihalic says since people can’t get through, they’re calling her office.
"We’ve had three calls just this week. And it’s only Tuesday."
And she is not the only state represenative who says their office is getting calls.
"Was there any thought to doing a full-time call center, like contracting a call center? Like Colorado, I believe. Why wouldn’t Pennsylvania do that when people weren’t able to get through?" said Republican Rep. Ryan Warner.
"I would have to check into that and get back to you," Berrier said.
The secretary says there are 500,000 fewer jobs now than before the pandemic and adds it’s unclear how many will come back.