Proposed rule · 2026-22903

Unemployment Insurance Program National Minimum Weekly Work Search Requirements

The U.S. Department of Labor (Department), through the Employment and Training Administration (ETA), is proposing to amend 20 CFR part 604 both to reflect a 2012 update in Federal law in which Congress, by amending section 303(a) of the Social Security Act (SSA), established a Federal work search requirement; and to establish a national minimum weekly work search requirement standard for the Federal-State unemployment compensation (UC) program. This proposed rule would mandate, among other things, that States require individuals claiming UC to complete at least five qualifying work search activities or, where applicable, meet State-adopted points-based system requirements amounting to five qualifying activities or satisfy equivalent labor force attachment criteria, each week for which UC is claimed; that individuals report their work search activities as part of their certification process prior to payment being issued; and that State law allow for certain qualifying work search activities beyond simply employer contacts. This action is necessary to reduce inconsistencies beyond those created by local labor markets in State- level requirements for individuals to actively seek work. The intended effect is to hold States accountable for administering a UC program that provides temporary wage replacement to eligible individuals while they are actively seeking work through a meaningful engagement with the labor market.