Washington ESD unemployment forms - which types don't count for government statistics?

So if someone stops filing weekly claims with Washington ESD because they gave up, they're not in the unemployment rate?

Exactly! Once you stop actively job searching and aren't filing claims, you're not counted as unemployed in the official stats.

I think you're mixing up types of unemployment with what gets counted. Seasonal unemployment IS counted if people file claims with Washington ESD.

you might be right, i always get confused about the seasonal stuff

This is really helpful! So Washington ESD might have records of people who aren't in the official unemployment rate?

Yes, Washington ESD tracks everyone who files claims, but the national unemployment statistics use different criteria than what determines UI eligibility.

That's so frustrating! The system doesn't capture the real picture of joblessness.

exactly, there's a whole invisible population of people without work who aren't in the statistics

Is that legitimate? I've never heard of a service like that for Washington ESD.

Yeah, it's real. I was skeptical too but it actually worked when I needed to talk to someone about my adjudication status.

Right, and these people might be eligible for partial unemployment benefits from Washington ESD while working part-time.

Exactly! So Washington ESD serves them but they're not counted as unemployed in the official rate.

No, people who are not able to work due to disability aren't counted as unemployed because they're not available for work. That's a different category entirely.

ok that makes sense, they wouldnt qualify for regular UI from washington esd either

Good point. The traditional employment classifications don't capture the reality of modern work arrangements very well.

And Washington ESD has had to adapt their systems to handle gig workers differently than traditional employees.

That was pandemic-specific though. Now we're back to the regular Washington ESD programs without those federal additions.

right, just shows how the counting can change based on policy

That's a good summary. Also remember that students and retirees who aren't seeking work aren't counted as unemployed either.

And people who are temporarily unable to work due to illness or family care responsibilities.

It's not necessarily about making numbers look better - the definitions serve statistical purposes. But you're right that they don't capture everyone's economic hardship.

i guess, but it still feels like the real picture gets lost in all these categories

Oh that's perfect! I didn't know there were different unemployment rates. That'll be great for my project.

Yeah, the U-6 gives a more complete picture of labor market slack than just the headline unemployment rate.

That's a good point - people who are unemployed but not immediately desperate enough to deal with the Washington ESD system.

Exactly. The system only captures people who actively engage with it, not everyone who's out of work.

That's exactly why I mentioned Claimyr earlier. The phone system at Washington ESD is impossible during busy periods. The service really does help cut through that frustration.

might have to look into that, we gave up after a week of trying

Good clarification! So it's really about the active job search requirement, not just being between jobs.

Right. The key is being available for work AND actively seeking employment. Both criteria have to be met.

That gets into informal economy territory. Technically they're employed but it's not captured in official employment statistics either.

so complicated! no wonder the numbers never seem to match what you see in real life

yes! that was me for a while. you just stop believing you'll find anything and quit trying

It's like you become invisible to the system even though you still need help

That's a really important distinction I hadn't thought about! Thanks for pointing that out.

Yeah, the Bureau of Labor Statistics surveys households directly rather than just counting benefit claims.

How much does something like that cost? I've been trying to reach them about my adjudication for weeks.

I'd check their website at claimyr.com for current info. For me it was worth it just to avoid the endless hold times and busy signals.

Glad we could help! It's a complex topic that affects a lot of people's understanding of economic conditions.

Good luck with your project! The distinction between different types of unemployment is really important for policy discussions.