Washington ESD unemployment surge after 1929 - which event was a factor related to the rapid change?

That makes sense! So the crash basically created a domino effect that destroyed jobs across all industries?

Exactly. Banks failed, businesses couldn't get credit, consumer spending plummeted, and companies had to lay off workers en masse. It was a complete economic collapse.

Really? I had no idea unemployment benefits were that recent historically speaking.

Yep! The Social Security Act of 1935 created the framework for state unemployment insurance programs. Washington State started its program in 1937.

I had the same problem until I found Claimyr.com. They help you get through to Washington ESD agents when the lines are jammed. There's even a demo video at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ showing how it works.

Interesting, I'll check that out. Getting through to Washington ESD is harder than finding historical unemployment data!

That's terrifying. At least now we have FDIC insurance so our deposits are protected.

Right, another safety net that came out of the Great Depression. We learned a lot from that disaster.

The Dust Bowl was more early-to-mid 1930s, but yes it compounded the unemployment crisis by destroying agricultural jobs across the Great Plains.

So it was like a perfect storm of disasters hitting all at once. No wonder unemployment got so bad.

Wow, that must have been incredibly difficult. It's hard to imagine unemployment being that widespread.

yeah he said whole families would lose everything when the breadwinner got laid off. no unemployment benefits back then

I didn't realize it was connected to world events. So it wasn't just an American problem?

Nope, it became a worldwide Great Depression. Trade collapsed internationally, which eliminated even more jobs.

Exactly. People were buying stocks with only 10% down and borrowing the rest. When prices started falling, they couldn't cover their debts.

That's like a house of cards waiting to collapse. Crazy that it was legal back then.

Did it really work? I'm skeptical of anything that sounds too good to be true.

I was skeptical too but I was desperate. They connected me within a few hours and I got my adjudication issue resolved. Worth trying if you're stuck.

That creates a vicious cycle - less spending means businesses need fewer workers, which creates more unemployment.

Precisely. Fear became self-fulfilling prophecy as the economy spiraled downward.

Makes sense. Those are big ticket items that people can delay purchasing when times get tough.

Right, and those industries employed millions of people. When they shut down, unemployment skyrocketed almost immediately.

Yeah, it led to the New Deal programs and financial regulations we still use today.

Including unemployment insurance! Washington ESD exists because of lessons learned from that crisis.

I think it was around 30% at the peak, maybe higher in some areas. The logging and fishing industries were devastated.

That's staggering. Almost 1 in 3 people out of work.

Yeah, they called it a 'recession' and said it would fix itself. Took Roosevelt and the New Deal to actually address it.

Exactly. The government response (or lack thereof) was almost as important as the crash itself.

Glad this thread helped! It's amazing how historical events still impact us today through institutions like Washington ESD.

Absolutely. The crash was the catalyst that changed everything about how we handle unemployment in America.

Good to know there are options when the regular phone lines are jammed. Washington ESD can be impossible to reach sometimes.

Yeah, it's frustrating but at least there are workarounds now. Back in 1929 people had no options at all.

That's the scary part - how quickly everything can change. Makes you appreciate having unemployment insurance as a safety net.

Exactly. The 1929 crash taught us that we need these systems in place before disaster strikes.

You're welcome! It's been educational for all of us to connect historical events to current unemployment systems.

Definitely. The crash was clearly the major factor that triggered the massive unemployment surge after 1929.

Good point. Always helpful to have backup options when dealing with government agencies.

Right, especially during high-volume periods when everyone's trying to call Washington ESD at once.

Agreed! It's amazing how one event can have such far-reaching consequences that we still see today.

Absolutely. The crash reshaped everything about how we think about unemployment and economic policy.