Washington ESD question - worker changing jobs unemployment type classification
I'm trying to understand something for my economics class project about unemployment types. If someone voluntarily quits their job to take a better position elsewhere, what category does Washington ESD consider this? I know there's structural, cyclical, and frictional unemployment but I'm confused about which one applies when someone is just switching between jobs. Does this affect their eligibility for benefits if there's a gap between positions?
45 comments


Chloe Harris
This would be classified as frictional unemployment. It's the natural movement of workers between jobs in a healthy economy. People searching for better opportunities, recent graduates looking for their first job, or workers transitioning between careers all fall into this category.
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CosmicCadet
•Thanks! That makes sense. So it's considered normal and expected in the job market?
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Chloe Harris
•Exactly. Frictional unemployment is actually a sign of a dynamic economy where people have choices and mobility.
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Diego Mendoza
Just to clarify from a Washington ESD perspective - if you voluntarily quit your job to take another one, you generally won't qualify for unemployment benefits during the gap. You need to be unemployed through no fault of your own to receive UI benefits.
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CosmicCadet
•Oh that's an important distinction! So the economic classification is different from benefit eligibility requirements.
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Anastasia Popova
•Right, and there are exceptions too. If you quit for "good cause" related to work conditions, you might still qualify for benefits.
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Sean Flanagan
I had this exact situation last year. Gave my two weeks notice to start a new job, but the new employer ended up rescinding the offer. Washington ESD initially denied my claim because I had quit voluntarily, but I was able to appeal successfully since the circumstances changed.
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CosmicCadet
•Wow, that must have been stressful. How long did the appeal process take?
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Sean Flanagan
•About 6 weeks total. I had to provide documentation of the job offer and proof that it was withdrawn through no fault of mine.
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Zara Shah
If you're having trouble reaching Washington ESD about benefit eligibility, I found claimyr.com really helpful. They have a service that helps you get through to an actual agent instead of dealing with the busy phone lines. There's a video demo at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows how it works.
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NebulaNomad
•I've been trying to call Washington ESD for weeks about a similar issue. Those phone lines are impossible!
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Zara Shah
•Yeah, that's exactly why I used Claimyr. They handle the waiting and call you back when they get an agent on the line.
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Luca Ferrari
For your class project, you might want to mention that frictional unemployment is usually short-term and represents about 2-3% of the workforce at any given time. It's the most positive type of unemployment since it indicates job market fluidity.
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CosmicCadet
•Perfect! Those statistics will be really useful for my presentation. Do you know if Washington state has different rates than the national average?
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Luca Ferrari
•Washington typically has slightly lower frictional unemployment due to our tech sector and strong job market, but the principles remain the same.
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Nia Wilson
be careful with the terminology though. some profs are picky about the definitions. structural unemployment is when there's a mismatch between skills and available jobs, cyclical is due to economic downturns, and frictional is the temporary period when people are between jobs
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CosmicCadet
•Good point! I'll make sure to define each type clearly in my project.
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Mateo Martinez
•Also worth noting that someone can experience multiple types simultaneously - like a factory worker whose plant closed (structural) during a recession (cyclical) who's now job hunting (frictional).
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Aisha Hussain
I'm dealing with this exact situation right now. Quit my retail job for what I thought was a better opportunity in marketing, but it fell through. Now I'm worried about explaining the gap to potential employers and whether I can even get unemployment benefits.
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Diego Mendoza
•You should definitely apply for benefits and explain the circumstances. If you can prove the job offer was legitimate and withdrawn, you might qualify.
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Aisha Hussain
•I have the email offer and the follow-up email saying they were putting hiring on hold. Hope that's enough documentation.
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Ethan Clark
•That sounds like good evidence. Make sure to keep all the communication records for your case.
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StarStrider
From an economic theory standpoint, frictional unemployment is actually beneficial because it allows for better job matches. Workers can search for positions that better fit their skills and preferences, leading to increased productivity and job satisfaction.
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CosmicCadet
•That's a great point to include in my analysis. It shows that not all unemployment is necessarily bad for the economy.
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Yuki Sato
•Exactly. The key is that frictional unemployment is voluntary and temporary, unlike structural unemployment which can be long-term and require retraining.
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Carmen Ruiz
Just went through this myself. The Washington ESD website has good information about the different types of job separations and how they affect benefits. Look under the 'Eligibility Requirements' section.
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CosmicCadet
•Thanks for the resource! I'll check that out for more official definitions.
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Andre Lefebvre
•The ESD website can be confusing though. If you need to speak with someone directly, that Claimyr service mentioned earlier really does work.
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Zoe Alexopoulos
wait, so if I quit my job voluntarily I can't get unemployment? even if I'm actively looking for work? that seems unfair
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Diego Mendoza
•Generally no, you can't get benefits if you quit without good cause. The system is designed to help people who lose jobs involuntarily.
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Jamal Anderson
•There are exceptions for unsafe working conditions, harassment, or if you quit to take another job that falls through. But you have to prove it.
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Zoe Alexopoulos
•oh ok that makes more sense. I was thinking about quitting my job but maybe I should find another one first
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Mei Wong
For your project, you might also want to discuss how technology and remote work are changing frictional unemployment patterns. People can now search for jobs while employed more easily, potentially reducing frictional unemployment periods.
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CosmicCadet
•Interesting perspective! I hadn't thought about how modern job search methods might affect the duration of frictional unemployment.
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QuantumQuasar
•LinkedIn and other platforms definitely make it easier to job hunt discretely. You don't have to quit to explore opportunities anymore.
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Liam McGuire
I work in HR and see this all the time. We actually encourage employees to give proper notice when leaving for other opportunities. It maintains good relationships and sometimes people come back later with more experience.
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CosmicCadet
•That's good to know from an employer perspective. It sounds like frictional unemployment can benefit both workers and employers.
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Amara Eze
•Absolutely. High turnover due to better opportunities often indicates a healthy job market and competitive wages.
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Giovanni Greco
MAKE SURE you understand the difference between voluntary and involuntary job separation for your project. Washington ESD is very strict about this distinction when determining benefit eligibility.
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CosmicCadet
•I'll definitely emphasize that distinction. It seems like the economic classification and benefit eligibility are two separate considerations.
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Fatima Al-Farsi
•Exactly. You can have frictional unemployment that's either eligible or ineligible for benefits depending on the circumstances of the job separation.
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Dylan Wright
good luck with your project! sounds like you're getting a thorough understanding of the topic
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CosmicCadet
•Thanks everyone! This discussion has been incredibly helpful for understanding both the theoretical and practical aspects.
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Sofia Torres
•Hope you get a good grade! Economics can be tricky but unemployment types are pretty straightforward once you understand the definitions.
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CosmicCadet
•I feel much more confident about the topic now. Really appreciate all the insights and real-world examples!
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