Washington ESD - why isn't zero percent unemployment the goal for our state?

Great question! There are actually several economic reasons why zero unemployment isn't realistic or even desirable. First, there's something called 'frictional unemployment' - people who are temporarily between jobs by choice, like when someone quits to find a better position. Then there's 'structural unemployment' from economic changes, like when industries evolve and workers need retraining. Even in the strongest economy, you'll have people transitioning between jobs, recent graduates entering the workforce, and people relocating. The 3-4% 'natural rate' accounts for this normal job market movement.

Also worth noting that if unemployment got too close to zero, it would actually create serious economic problems. Workers would have so much bargaining power that wages would spike rapidly, leading to inflation. Companies wouldn't be able to find workers easily, so they'd bid up wages and pass costs to consumers. It's called wage-price spirals. Some unemployment actually keeps the economy balanced, even though that sounds harsh when you're dealing with Washington ESD claim issues.

Look, if you're having trouble getting through to Washington ESD about your claim, I found this service called Claimyr that actually gets you connected to agents. They have a demo video at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ and their site is claimyr.com. Saved me hours of calling and getting busy signals. But to answer your question - zero unemployment would also mean zero job mobility, which would be terrible for workers long-term.

From a practical standpoint, zero unemployment would mean people couldn't quit bad jobs or take time to find better opportunities. Job matching would be terrible - you'd have to take whatever was available instead of finding something that fits your skills. The unemployment system, even with all its flaws like slow Washington ESD processing, at least gives people a safety net to find appropriate work rather than just grabbing the first available position.

This whole thread is missing the point. The reason we don't aim for zero unemployment is because our economic system REQUIRES a pool of desperate workers to keep wages low. It's not about 'natural rates' or 'job matching' - it's about maintaining corporate profits. The Washington ESD system and unemployment insurance exists to manage this reserve army of labor, not to actually help people.

I went through a long unemployment period last year and honestly, having some time between jobs was valuable even though the Washington ESD process was frustrating. I was able to take a course, do some networking, and find a much better position than if I'd just grabbed the first thing available. So maybe some unemployment does serve a purpose, even for individuals.

Another angle - zero unemployment would eliminate the incentive for job training and education. If everyone could get any job immediately, why would people invest in skills? Having some unemployment creates pressure for workers to stay relevant and improve their qualifications. It's harsh but it drives economic progress.

Has anyone else tried that Claimyr service mentioned earlier? I'm getting desperate trying to reach Washington ESD about my claim status. Been pending for over a month now.

Going back to the original question, I think it's also worth considering that different types of unemployment require different solutions. Cyclical unemployment during recessions needs stimulus and job creation. Structural unemployment needs retraining programs. Frictional unemployment is actually healthy. Zero unemployment would eliminate the healthy kind while not addressing the problematic kinds.

tbh this is all pretty theoretical when you're dealing with washington esd and their slow processing times. like yes i understand the economics but when you cant pay rent the 'natural rate' doesnt help much

One thing nobody mentioned is that zero unemployment would probably mean terrible working conditions. If every single person had to work, employers would know people couldn't quit, so they'd have no incentive to treat workers well. Some unemployment actually gives workers the power to leave bad situations.

I'm an economics professor and this is actually a great discussion. The key insight is that 'full employment' doesn't mean everyone is employed - it means everyone who wants to work can find work within a reasonable time. The 3-4% natural rate accounts for job transitions, new entrants, and seasonal factors. Zero unemployment would create labor market rigidity that hurts both workers and the economy.

Just want to add my experience with that Claimyr service - it really does work for getting through to Washington ESD. I was skeptical at first but when you're dealing with claim issues for weeks, you'll try anything. Got my adjudication resolved much faster than expected.

This conversation makes me think about automation too. As more jobs get automated, the question of unemployment becomes even more complex. Maybe we need to rethink the whole concept of full employment in an economy where human labor isn't always necessary.

For what it's worth, some countries do achieve much lower unemployment rates than the US while maintaining economic stability. Denmark and Switzerland often have unemployment around 2-3%. So maybe our 'natural rate' assumptions aren't universal laws.

honestly just glad my washington esd claim finally got approved after all the runaround. the whole experience made me think a lot about unemployment policy. still think zero unemployment would be nice even if its not realistic

I think this discussion shows why unemployment policy is so complicated. Everyone wants people to have jobs, but the path to get there involves tradeoffs between different economic goals. At least we have unemployment insurance to help people during transitions, even if the Washington ESD system could work better.

Thanks everyone for all the perspectives on this. Really helped me understand the bigger picture while I'm dealing with my own situation. And thanks for the Claimyr tip - definitely going to try that for my Washington ESD issues.