Unemployment Proposal Would Require Five Job-Hunting Efforts Weekly
Published Date: 11/10/2026
Proposed Rule
Summary
If you get unemployment benefits, soon you’ll need to show you’re actively job hunting by doing at least five work search activities each week. States will have to track and verify these efforts before paying benefits, making sure everyone is seriously looking for work. This change aims to make job searching rules fair and consistent nationwide, with comments open until January 11, 2027.
Analyzed Economic Effects
6 provisions identified: 3 benefits, 3 costs, 0 mixed.
Must do five job‑searchs each week
If you claim unemployment benefits, State law would have to require you to complete at least five qualifying work search activities each week you claim benefits. States may instead adopt a points‑based system that equals five qualifying activities or allow an equivalent demonstration of labor force attachment.
Report job searches before payment
You must report the details of each completed work search activity (or equivalent labor force attachment) as part of your continued claim certification before payment is released for each claimed week. For biweekly certifications, States must still obtain separate weekly work search information and must not pay for a week unless the requirement or an equivalent attachment is satisfied.
Many activities count toward searches
State law must recognize qualifying activities beyond just contacting employers. Required examples include employer contacts (applications, interviews, employer skill/aptitude assessments), registration and ongoing contact with placement agencies, and contact with your union for job referrals. States may also allow job fairs, career center services, training or workshops, professional assessments or certification exams, and other activities reasonably calculated to lead to reemployment.
No warnings instead of ineligibility
States would be prohibited from issuing formal or informal warnings to claimants who fail to complete required weekly work search activities instead of determining ineligibility. The Department expects States to end such warnings upon publication of the final rule or as soon as State law permits.
Limited exceptions to search rule
You may be deemed to have met the weekly work search requirement in limited situations, such as when work search activities would not promote labor force attachment, when the timing of an initial claim does not allow completing the minimum activities, or other limited extenuating circumstances recognized by State law.
States must notify claimants of rules
States must provide notice to individuals about the applicable work search requirements so claimants understand what activities count and the reporting expectations. The rule is intended to make expectations consistent and clear across States.
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Key Dates
Department and Agencies
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