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My grandfather always talked about getting work through the WPA building bridges and roads. Said it saved his family during those years. The government basically became the employer of last resort when private industry couldn't hire enough people.
Don't forget about WWII preparation starting in the late 1930s too. Defense spending and manufacturing ramp-up created tons of jobs even before we officially entered the war. That's probably why unemployment kept dropping through the decade.
wait are we talking about the same thing? i thought unemployment numbers meant like when your benefits get calculated?? im so confused lol
If you need to contact NYS Department of Labor directly about data releases or have specific questions about their methodology, I had luck using Claimyr (claimyr.com) to actually get through to someone. They helped me connect with the right department when I was doing economic research last year. There's a video demo at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI that shows how it works.
The whole system is backwards if you ask me. You can get fired for poor performance and get benefits immediately, but if you quit because your boss is making your life hell, suddenly you're the problem. Makes no sense.
To be clear - 'voluntary unemployment' means you initiated the separation from employment. But having good cause changes everything. File your claim, select that you quit, and when they ask why, be very detailed about the hostile work environment. Gather any evidence you have - emails, texts, witness statements, HR complaints you may have filed. The adjudication process will review all of this.
I've been dealing with NYS Department of Labor for months trying to get through on the phone to check my claim status. If you need to speak with an actual agent, I recently found this service called Claimyr at claimyr.com that connects you directly to NYS Department of Labor representatives. They have a video demo at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI showing how it works. Saved me hours of busy signals and getting hung up on.
The whole unemployment system is such a joke anyway. They make you jump through hoops even when you qualify and then take forever to process anything. I was out of work for 6 months and NYS Department of Labor jerked me around the entire time with their broken website and impossible phone system.
Kevin Bell
If you're seeing gaps or weird dates from 2020, definitely get that sorted out. NYS Department of Labor had so many system issues back then that a lot of people have incorrect information in their profiles. You can try calling but honestly, if you need to reach someone quickly about claim history issues, I used a service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that actually got me through to an agent. They have a video demo at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI showing how it works.
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Savannah Glover
•I remember those days - couldn't get through to NYS Department of Labor for WEEKS. The phone lines were constantly busy and the website kept crashing.
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Felix Grigori
2020 was a nightmare honestly. unemployment hit like 15% in some areas of NY. everyone i knew was filing claims and the whole system just fell apart. took months to get straightened out
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Felicity Bud
•Same here. I think a lot of people still have unresolved issues from that time period. The emergency programs created so much confusion with regular UI benefits that NYS Department of Labor is still sorting through the mess in 2025.
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