NYS Department of Labor unemployment - why is some unemployment good for the economy?

You're asking about what economists call the 'natural rate of unemployment' - typically around 3-5%. This includes people transitioning between jobs, recent graduates entering the workforce, and seasonal workers. It indicates a dynamic economy where people can leave bad jobs to find better ones. Zero unemployment would actually signal economic problems because it would mean no one has flexibility to change careers or improve their situation.

yeah but tell that to my landlord lol... been filing my weekly claims for 2 months and still can't find anything in my field

From a macro perspective unemployment serves as a labor market buffer. When companies need to expand they have a pool of available workers. When they need to contract during downturns workers have temporary income support through UI benefits. It's essentially economic shock absorption that prevents more severe boom-bust cycles.

I get the theory but the NYS Department of Labor system is so broken that being unemployed feels more like punishment than economic flexibility. My adjudication has been pending for weeks with no explanation.

The key thing to remember is that while some unemployment is structurally necessary for a healthy economy, that doesn't mean individual unemployment isn't challenging. You're still dealing with real financial stress even if your situation serves a broader economic function.