EDD work search requirements changed? Job candidates ghosting interviews

The work search requirements haven't fundamentally changed, but the verification process has evolved. Currently, claimants must be able to show they've made reasonable efforts to find suitable work each week they certify, but EDD rarely requests detailed verification unless there's an eligibility interview or audit. For most regular UI claims in 2025, claimants need to perform at least 3 work search activities per week, which can include submitting applications, attending interviews, networking, etc. However, they're only required to keep their own records of these activities for 3 years - they don't submit proof with each certification unless specifically requested. So technically, someone could be marking that they're searching for work without following through on interviews. EDD would only catch this during a random eligibility review or if someone reported them for unemployment fraud.

this happens to us tooooo!! we had 8 no-shows last month for our warehouse positions. total waste of time. i think people r just applying to check the box for edd but dont actually want the job

I was on unemployment last year, and the way it works now is you have to check a box during certification saying you looked for work, but they don't ask for specific details unless they do a random audit. You're supposed to keep a record of your job search activities for 3 years in case you get audited, but most people probably don't. When I certified, I just had to answer YES to "Did you look for work?" and that was it. No details required about applications, interviews, etc. So yeah, people could easily be applying to jobs with no intention of taking them just to meet the requirements.

I work in HR and can confirm this is happening EVERYWHERE right now. We've started doing quick phone screenings before scheduling in-person interviews specifically because of this issue. Regarding the actual EDD requirements - claimants must perform work search activities each week, but how EDD monitors this has definitely gotten more relaxed post-pandemic. The system now puts more emphasis on self-reporting rather than verification. Unless someone gets selected for an eligibility interview, they likely won't have to provide any proof of their job search efforts. Long story short - yes, people can technically apply to jobs with little intention of taking them, and the system currently doesn't have great checks against this behavior.

OMG this is SO frustrating!! I've been on the hiring side AND the unemployed side. When I was on unemployment, I actually went to all my interviews even if I wasn't super interested because it's just basic courtesy!!! People have no respect anymore. I don't think the requirements changed - people just got lazier!!!!

If you want to reach an EDD representative to report this behavior or get more information about current requirements, try using Claimyr. I was trying to get through to EDD for WEEKS about a similar issue with employees who quit and then filed for unemployment. Claimyr got me connected to an actual EDD agent in about 25 minutes when I couldn't get through at all on my own. You can see how it works here: https://youtu.be/JmuwXR7HA10?si=TSwYbu_GOwYzt9km Their website is claimyr.com - definitely saved me hours of frustration. The EDD agent I spoke with confirmed they do have a fraud department that handles these types of situations where people may be abusing the system.

As someone who's currently on unemployment, I can tell u that during the weekly certification, EDD just asks if u looked for work. They don't ask for details unless they call u in for an eligibility interview later. I keep records of everything just in case, but ya know, not everyone does. BUT it's super shitty to confirm an interview and not show up. That's just rude. Sorry ur dealing with that. Some of us actually want jobs :/

To answer your follow-up question - yes, there can be penalties if EDD discovers someone is falsifying their job search. If they determine someone is not making a good faith effort to find work, they can: 1. Disqualify them from benefits for weeks they weren't actually searching 2. Create an overpayment that must be repaid 3. Add penalty weeks to future claims 4. In serious cases of fraud, assess a 30% penalty on top of the overpayment The challenge is that EDD has limited resources to investigate these cases unless someone specifically reports potential fraud. Employers can report suspected unemployment insurance fraud through the EDD website or by calling their fraud hotline.

Update: I spoke with an EDD representative today (thanks for the Claimyr tip, it actually worked!), and they confirmed that while work search requirements are being enforced, they're mainly focusing on whether people are applying to jobs, not necessarily following through with interviews. The rep suggested documenting no-shows and reporting them if you believe they're collecting unemployment fraudulently. They said EDD takes these reports seriously, especially with the pattern you're describing. In the meantime, they suggested adding a confirmation step the morning of the interview to reduce no-shows. Apparently this is becoming a widespread issue across many industries.

I'm dealing with this exact same issue! We're a small tech startup and have had 6 no-shows out of 9 scheduled interviews in the past two weeks. It's incredibly frustrating because we block out time, sometimes rearrange our schedules, and prepare materials for these candidates. What's particularly annoying is that most of them respond to our confirmation emails the day before, saying they're "looking forward to meeting us" and then just... don't show up. No call, no email, nothing. I had no idea this might be connected to unemployment requirements, but it makes total sense. We're definitely going to start doing phone screens first like someone suggested, and I'll look into that reporting process too. Thanks for bringing this up - at least now I know we're not alone in this!

I'm currently unemployed and can provide some perspective from the other side. Yes, the weekly certification process is pretty minimal - just checking boxes about whether you looked for work. But honestly, what you're describing is really disappointing to hear about other job seekers. When I schedule an interview, I absolutely show up even if I'm not 100% sure about the role. It's basic professional courtesy, and these employers are taking time out of their day for us. Plus, you never know - a job that seems "meh" on paper might turn out to be perfect, or could lead to networking opportunities down the road. I think some people might be applying to jobs they're overqualified for or not really interested in just to hit their weekly application numbers, then when they get called for interviews they panic or just don't care enough to show up. It's really unfair to employers like you who are genuinely trying to hire. Maybe EDD should require more detailed reporting about interview attendance, not just applications submitted. This behavior gives all of us legitimate job seekers a bad reputation.

I'm a recruiter who works with small to medium businesses, and this issue has absolutely exploded in the last 6 months. We're seeing no-show rates of 40-60% across different industries, which is completely unprecedented. What's particularly frustrating is that many of these candidates have solid resumes and seem engaged during our initial phone contact, but then completely disappear when it comes to the actual interview. We've started implementing a "three-touch confirmation" process - initial scheduling, 48-hour confirmation, and morning-of confirmation - which has helped reduce no-shows to about 25%, but that's still way too high. I've also noticed that candidates who do show up often mention that they're "exploring all their options" or seem less committed to actually wanting the role. It really does seem like there's a subset of people who are just going through the motions to satisfy unemployment requirements without any genuine intent to get hired. For what it's worth, we've started asking more direct questions during phone screens like "What specifically interests you about this role?" and "Are you actively looking to accept a position in the next 30 days?" The answers (or lack thereof) are pretty telling about who's serious and who isn't.

As someone who recently went through the EDD certification process while genuinely job hunting, I can confirm that the system is pretty much honor-based right now. You just check "yes" to looking for work each week without having to provide any details unless you get randomly selected for an eligibility interview. What really bothers me about the no-show issue is that it makes legitimate job seekers look bad. When I was unemployed, I treated every interview as an opportunity, even for positions I wasn't initially excited about. Some of my best jobs came from interviews I almost didn't take seriously at first. I think part of the problem is that people are applying to jobs way outside their skill level or interest just to hit their weekly application quota. Then when they actually get called for an interview, they realize they don't want the job but are too cowardly to just decline professionally. For employers dealing with this - maybe try asking during initial contact something like "On a scale of 1-10, how interested are you in this specific role and why?" It might help you gauge who's actually serious versus just going through the motions for EDD requirements.