The Blog

Paul Trause, Commissioner, Employment Security Department

06/13/11

In this difficult economy, we know it’s hard to find jobs. Yet the unemployment insurance system doesn’t work unless people who receive benefits make legitimate efforts to find jobs. At the Employment Security Department, we make sure those receiving benefits are living up to their end of the bargain and looking for work. And we take that job seriously.

Individuals who receive unemployment benefits must participate in at least three job-search activities each week — which can include attending a WorkSource workshop — and document them on their job-search logs. Each month, we call about 5,500 people into our WorkSource offices to review their logs and help them adjust or expand their job-search efforts to give them the best chance for success.

While we’re here to help, people need to help themselves, too. That means looking for work. If they fail to hold up their end of the bargain, they’re going to pay the price — literally. In 2010, we identified more than 9,000 individuals who were not conducting a proper job search but claiming unemployment benefits. Those individuals have to pay back $23 million in benefits.