What are the five kinds of unemployment - NYS Department of Labor classification question
I'm studying for a job interview and need to understand the different types of unemployment that NYS Department of Labor recognizes. My economics textbook mentions five main categories but I want to make sure I understand how they apply to actual unemployment claims in New York. Can someone break down what these five types are and how they might affect someone's eligibility for benefits? I've been on unemployment myself but never really thought about the technical classifications behind it.
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Oliver Alexander
The five main types economists recognize are: 1) Frictional unemployment (temporary between jobs), 2) Structural unemployment (skills mismatch), 3) Cyclical unemployment (economic downturns), 4) Seasonal unemployment (weather/calendar dependent work), and 5) Technological unemployment (jobs replaced by automation). For NYS Department of Labor purposes, most regular UI claims fall under frictional or cyclical categories. Seasonal workers might qualify for standby status in some cases.
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Kaylee Cook
•Thanks! So if I was laid off because my company downsized due to poor sales, that would be cyclical unemployment right? And I'd still qualify for regular benefits?
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Lara Woods
From a practical standpoint when filing with NYS Department of Labor, they don't really ask you to classify your unemployment type. They care more about the reason you lost your job - whether you were fired for misconduct, quit voluntarily, or were laid off through no fault of your own. The academic categories help explain broader economic patterns but for your claim it's more about meeting the specific eligibility requirements.
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Adrian Hughes
•exactly, the adjudication process focuses on your work history and separation reason, not economic theory
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Molly Chambers
i was unemployed for 8 months last year and honestly never heard anyone at NYS Department of Labor mention these categories... they just wanted to know if i got fired or laid off and whether i was actively looking for work
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Ian Armstrong
If you're having trouble reaching NYS Department of Labor to get more specific information about your situation, I had success using Claimyr at claimyr.com. They have a system that helps you get through to actual agents instead of sitting on hold forever. There's a demo video at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI that shows how it works. Helped me resolve an adjudication issue that had been stuck for weeks.
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Kaylee Cook
•Interesting, I'll keep that in mind if I run into issues with my claim. Right now I'm just trying to understand the theory for this interview.
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Eli Butler
The NYS Department of Labor system is so confusing anyway... I filed my weekly claim wrong twice because I didn't understand the job search requirements. They should explain these things better instead of making us figure out economic terminology!
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