NYS Department of Labor benefits after job eliminated by automation - how to overcome unemployment due to ai
My position as a data entry clerk was eliminated last month when my company implemented an AI system that could process invoices automatically. I've been filing my weekly claims with NYS Department of Labor but I'm really struggling to find new work because it seems like every entry-level office job I look at is being replaced by similar technology. Has anyone else dealt with unemployment due to AI taking over their role? I'm worried about my job search requirements since most of the positions I'm qualified for are disappearing. Should I be looking into retraining programs through Workforce One or other NYS Department of Labor resources?
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Mateo Silva
This is becoming more common unfortunately. The good news is that NYS Department of Labor recognizes technological displacement as valid grounds for unemployment benefits. For your job search requirement, you should focus on roles that complement AI rather than compete with it - customer service, quality control, or positions that require human judgment. Document all your search efforts carefully since you'll need to show you're making genuine attempts to find work in your field or related areas.
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Michael Green
•Thanks, that's helpful. Should I be applying to jobs that seem like they might also get automated soon, or will that hurt my case if I get disqualified later for not accepting suitable work?
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Victoria Jones
I went through the same thing when my accounting firm automated most of our bookkeeping tasks. What worked for me was using the time on unemployment to get certified in areas where AI still needs human oversight. I enrolled in a data analysis course through the local community college and now I work validating AI outputs instead of doing manual data entry. NYS Department of Labor approved it as part of my job search activities.
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Cameron Black
•How long did that certification take? I'm in a similar situation and wondering if I have enough weeks left on my claim to complete training.
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Victoria Jones
•The program was 16 weeks part-time. I had to keep filing my weekly claims and doing job searches while in training, but it counted toward my work search requirements since it was related to my field.
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Jessica Nguyen
this is exactly what I was afraid of happening... been working the same warehouse job for 8 years and now they're talking about bringing in robots. already seeing the writing on the wall but don't know what else I could even do
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Mateo Silva
•Don't panic yet. Warehouse automation usually happens gradually and often creates new roles for robot maintenance, quality control, and inventory management. Start looking into those areas now while you still have your current job.
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Isaiah Thompson
I had a nightmare trying to reach someone at NYS Department of Labor to discuss whether my training program would count for job search requirements. Spent weeks calling and either got busy signals or was disconnected after waiting on hold. Finally found this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that helps you get through to actual agents. They have a video demo at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI showing how it works. Was able to get my questions answered about retraining programs in just a couple days instead of waiting weeks.
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Ruby Garcia
•How much does something like that cost? I'm already struggling financially and can't afford to pay for help with my unemployment claim.
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Isaiah Thompson
•It's worth checking out their site for the details, but the value was definitely there for me compared to the time I was wasting trying to get through on my own. Plus getting accurate information about training programs early helped me make better decisions about my benefits.
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Alexander Evans
The whole system is broken if you ask me. Companies get tax breaks for automating jobs but there's no real support for workers who get displaced. Sure NYS Department of Labor will pay your benefits for a few months but then what? Most retraining programs are outdated by the time you finish them because technology moves so fast.
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Cameron Black
•I feel this so hard. My brother went through a coding bootcamp thinking it was safe from automation and now there are AIs writing code better than junior developers.
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Michael Green
UPDATE: Just wanted to thank everyone for the advice. I contacted Workforce One and they have a specific program for workers displaced by technology. It includes career counseling and connections to employers who are specifically hiring people to work alongside AI systems rather than being replaced by them. Still filing my weekly claims but feeling more hopeful about finding something sustainable.
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