Does raising the minimum wage cause unemployment - worried about my Washington ESD claim

That's somewhat reassuring. I've been looking mostly at retail and food service jobs through WorkSource WA. Do you think those sectors would be affected differently?

Those sectors tend to be less sensitive to wage increases because they can't easily outsource or automate those positions. Plus consumer spending often increases when wages rise.

I've tried calling so many times but can never get through. It just hangs up on me after being on hold forever.

Same problem here! I found this service called Claimyr that actually gets you through to Washington ESD agents. Check out claimyr.com - they have a demo video at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows how it works. Saved me hours of calling.

Really? How does that work exactly? I'm desperate to talk to someone about my adjudication status.

MIXED? Every conservative economist says it kills jobs! Small businesses can't afford to pay $15+ an hour for basic work!!!

The empirical evidence doesn't support that claim consistently. Card and Krueger's foundational study and many subsequent ones show very small effects, if any.

Academic studies vs real world experience... I've seen plenty of restaurants cut hours when wages went up

You're right. I just get anxious reading all this conflicting information online while I'm waiting for Washington ESD to make a decision.

Totally understandable. Have you been keeping up with your weekly claims while in adjudication? That's crucial even when waiting.

Yes, I file every week religiously. Just worried about the whole process dragging on.

Exactly. OP should focus on what they can control - job searching, maintaining their claim status, meeting WorkSource requirements.

True, I should probably spend less time reading economic debates and more time on job applications!

That's helpful perspective. What industry were you in? I'm coming from hospitality/customer service.

Retail and later office work. Hospitality actually tends to do okay with wage increases because tips often adjust upward too.

I used Claimyr when I had adjudication issues last year. Really helped me get through to Washington ESD to understand why my claim was delayed. Worth checking out if you're stuck in the system.

Political theater?? Tell that to small business owners who have to lay people off!

The data shows most small businesses adjust through slightly higher prices or improved efficiency, not mass layoffs. Anecdotes aren't data.

My restaurant did reduce hours when wages went up but we also raised prices and it evened out after a few months. Initial adjustment period was rough though.

You're absolutely right. I should focus on resolving my immediate claim issues rather than worrying about hypothetical policy effects.

Have you tried reaching out to your local WorkSource office? Sometimes they can help navigate Washington ESD issues or at least point you in the right direction.

Good idea. I'll contact them tomorrow. Thanks for refocusing me on actionable steps!

That makes sense. I've been so focused on external factors instead of what I can actually control in my job search.

Exactly! And if your adjudication is taking forever, definitely look into that Claimyr service someone mentioned earlier. Getting clarity on your claim status is probably more important than economic policy debates right now.

That's really helpful insight from someone actually making hiring decisions. Do you think the current job market is decent for someone with customer service experience?

Customer service skills are always in demand, especially if you're flexible about industries. Don't limit yourself to just hospitality - lots of sectors need people with those skills.

This! I transitioned from restaurant work to insurance customer service. Similar skills, better benefits, more stable hours.

Plus Washington's higher wages mean more consumer spending, which creates more jobs in service industries. It's not a zero-sum game.

I hadn't thought about the increased spending effect. That actually makes a lot of sense for retail and service jobs.

Right, and higher wages also reduce turnover costs for employers. Less training, less recruitment expenses. There are offsetting benefits.

You're totally right. I tend to spiral into these big picture worries when I should be taking concrete action on my situation.

Same here when I was unemployed. Spent way too much time reading doom and gloom articles instead of applying for jobs. Action beats anxiety every time.

Thanks everyone for the perspective. I'm going to focus on practical steps - contacting WorkSource, maybe trying that Claimyr service, and putting more energy into applications rather than reading economic debates.

Good plan! And remember to keep filing those weekly claims even during adjudication. Don't want to lose benefits over a technicality.

Definitely doing that. Really appreciate all the advice from everyone here!