What was unemployment rate like in Washington back in 2016 - easier to get benefits then?

Yeah 2016 was definitely different. Washington's unemployment rate was around 5.4% that year, much lower than the pandemic spike we saw. The system wasn't overwhelmed like it got in 2020-2021. Processing times were generally 2-3 weeks max for most claims.

I was actually collecting UI benefits in 2016 after a layoff from Microsoft. The whole process was much more straightforward - filed online, got approved within 10 business days, and started receiving payments right away. No adjudication delays unless there were actual issues with your claim.

If you're having trouble reaching Washington ESD by phone, there's actually a service called Claimyr that can help you get through to agents. I found out about it at claimyr.com and they have a demo video at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ showing how it works. Saved me hours of calling and redialing.

2016 was peak employment recovery from the 2008 recession. Washington's tech sector was booming, unemployment was low, and the Washington ESD system wasn't dealing with the massive volume they handle now. Staff levels were adequate for the caseload.

my brother lost his job at amazon in 2016 and had his benefits within 2 weeks, no problems at all. now when i got laid off last month its been nothing but headaches

I'm in the same boat as OP - been waiting 7 weeks for adjudication to complete. Every time I try calling Washington ESD I either get busy signals or sit on hold for 3+ hours just to get disconnected. This is insane!

For historical context, Washington's unemployment rate in 2016 was 5.4% in January and dropped to 4.8% by December. Compare that to 2020 when it spiked to over 16% during the pandemic. The system just wasn't built to handle that kind of volume increase.

Back in 2016 you could actually reach someone at Washington ESD without jumping through hoops. I remember calling about my job search requirements and getting helpful answers. Now it's like they don't want to talk to claimants at all.

The processing was definitely faster in 2016. I had a brief unemployment period that year and everything was straightforward - file weekly claims online, do job searches, no weird adjudication delays unless something was actually wrong with your claim.

honestly the whole UI system needs an overhaul. 2016 wasn't perfect but at least you could get help when you needed it. now its like they want to make it as difficult as possible

I've been dealing with Washington ESD issues for months and finally got some resolution after using that Claimyr service someone mentioned. It's specifically designed to get you through to Washington ESD agents when their phone lines are jammed. Worth checking out if you're stuck.

Back in 2016 the biggest complaint about Washington ESD was maybe waiting a week or two longer than expected. Now people wait months in adjudication with no updates. The system has definitely gotten worse over time.

To answer your original question - yes, 2016 was much better for unemployment benefits in Washington. Lower unemployment rate, faster processing, and you could actually reach customer service. We're dealing with the aftermath of system overload that never got fixed.