How far can ESD require me to travel for job search activities?

I think it's like 25 miles or something? That's what the lady told me when I called them last month.

The actual rule is that you must be willing to accept work within your "customary labor market" which ESD typically defines as about a one-hour commute from your residence. However, this can vary based on your occupation, industry standards, and local transportation options. Rural areas sometimes have different considerations. If you're concerned about specific job opportunities being too far, document your reasoning if you decline interviews - transportation costs making the job financially unfeasible is a legitimate concern. But be careful - you need to show you're making good-faith efforts to find suitable work within a reasonable distance. I'd recommend noting your geographical constraints in your job search log along with your efforts to find work within a reasonable commute distance.

THEY WILL 100% TRY TO DISQUALIFY YOU!!! I got denied benefits because I turned down an interview that was 65 miles away FROM MY HOUSE!!!! ESD doesn't care about gas prices or your situation, they just want any excuse to not pay!!! I had to file an appeal and everything, total nightmare. If you get any job contacts far away, at least do the interview over the phone if possible so they can't say you refused work!!

My cousin works at WorkSource and she told me it's usually 1 hour commute time that's considered reasonable but that its not actually a fixed rule exactly. Depends on your usual job type and stuff.

FYI when i was on unemployment last year i couldnt get thru to ESD for WEEKS about this exact question!!! i was about to lose my mind but then i found this service called Claimyr that got me connected to an ESD agent in like 20 minutes instead of waiting on hold forever. they have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ?si=26TzE_zGms-DODN3 the agent told me that for my situation (i'm in construction) they expect me to go up to 50 miles but it depends on your industry. worth calling to get a straight answer for your specific case. their website is claimyr.com if you're tired of the phone tag game!

Here's the official guidance from ESD: you must be willing to accept suitable work within your customary labor market. This is generally defined as a one-hour commute each way, but it varies depending on: 1. Your occupation and industry standards 2. Your previous commuting history 3. Local transportation infrastructure 4. Normal commuting patterns in your area Important: If you decline a job interview solely because of distance, you need to document why the commute would create an undue hardship. Calculate and document: • Commute distance and time • Transportation costs versus offered wages • Availability of public transportation (if applicable) If the transportation costs would reduce your effective wage below acceptable levels, this could be considered a valid reason for declining. But always document everything thoroughly in case of adjudication.

I'm in the same situation!!!! Rural area outside Bellingham and there's barely anything nearby. I've been applying to stuff that's like 40-45 mins away cause I'm scared they'll say I'm not trying hard enough, but idk how I'd even afford to commute to those jobs with what they pay. The whole system feels rigged tbh.

Has anyone on here ever successfully challenged ESD's definition of "reasonable distance"? I'd love to know what kind of evidence they accepted. The one-hour guideline seems completely arbitrary and doesn't account for gas prices in 2025!!!

To follow up on my earlier comment, if you're really concerned about this issue, I recommend these steps: 1. Call ESD directly and ask for clarification about distance expectations for your specific job classification and location. Get the agent's name and note the date/time of the call. 2. Visit your local WorkSource office if possible - they can provide guidance specific to your area and help document any geographic limitations in your job search. 3. When logging job search activities, include distance calculations for jobs you apply to, showing you're making good-faith efforts within a reasonable radius. 4. If you decline an interview due to distance, document the exact reason (cost analysis showing the job would be financially unfeasible after transportation costs). Being proactive about this documentation can prevent potential issues later.