Labor Department Proposes Five Weekly Work-Search Requirement for Benefits

The United States Department of Labor proposed a new rule on Monday that would require unemployment insurance applicants to document at least five work-search activities per week to remain eligible for benefits. Labor Secretary Keith Sonderling stated the measure is intended to improve the integrity and accountability of the federal-state system and ensure the efficient use of taxpayer resources.

Currently, the United States lacks a uniform national requirement for work-search activities, with only four states mandating five activities per week. The proposal arrives during a low-hire, low-fire job market where long-term unemployment reached 27.6% in October.

Consumer advocates, including the National Employment Law Project, criticized the baseline as too high for many applicants. They argue the rule will force states to incur significant costs to update their laws and technology. The proposal now enters a 60-day public comment period.