Why has Washington ESD unemployment increased so much in our area lately?

200 people? That's huge for our area. Are they all getting their benefits approved quickly or is Washington ESD backed up?

From what I heard, most are getting approved but the weekly claim processing is taking longer than usual. Probably due to volume.

30% increase is massive! No wonder it's taking forever to get through to Washington ESD on the phone when you need help with your claim.

Exactly. The call volume has overwhelmed their system. If you need to reach them urgently, I'd suggest trying alternative methods or services that can help you get through.

What alternative methods? I've been trying to call Washington ESD for weeks about my adjudication status.

Wait, this actually works? I'm desperate at this point. My claim has been in adjudication for 5 weeks.

Yeah it worked for me. Saved me from going crazy hitting redial all day. The Washington ESD agent was able to explain exactly what was holding up my claim and what documents I needed to submit.

Sounds too good to be true but I might have to try this. Been calling Washington ESD every morning for two weeks straight.

Economic indicators suggest this could continue for several more months. I'd recommend updating your resume and starting to network, even if you're currently employed.

Always good advice to keep your options open. Better to be prepared than caught off guard.

New claims are still being processed within the standard timeframe, usually 2-3 weeks. It's the weekly claims and adjudication issues that are taking longer due to call center volume.

That's somewhat reassuring. At least the initial filing isn't completely broken.

Make sure you file immediately if you do get laid off. Don't wait even a day or you could lose out on benefits for that week.

THIS. Companies have no loyalty anymore. They'll dump experienced workers to save a few bucks then complain about not being able to find good employees.

It's a vicious cycle. The more people get laid off, the less consumer spending there is, which leads to more layoffs.

How long does it take to train new Washington ESD staff? Seems like by the time they're trained, the crisis could be over.

He said about 3 months for full training on all the unemployment systems and regulations. So yeah, it's not a quick fix.

Which is why services like Claimyr are so helpful right now. You can't wait 3 months when you need answers about your claim today.

Tech, retail, and manufacturing are seeing the biggest layoffs. Healthcare, education, and government jobs are more stable. But nowhere is completely immune.

I'm in construction and work has definitely slowed down. Not layoffs yet but definitely fewer hours for everyone.

Good point. What are the current job search requirements? I want to be prepared just in case.

You need to make at least 3 job search contacts per week and keep a detailed log. Washington ESD can audit your search activities at any time.

And make sure those job searches are legitimate and documented properly. They're cracking down on people who just go through the motions.

I've noticed this too! Apply to dozens of jobs and never hear anything back. Are these companies even looking at applications?

Many companies are required to post jobs publicly even when they already have internal candidates. It's frustrating but legal.

Have you tried filing your weekly claims early in the morning? I've had better luck with the Washington ESD website around 6-7 AM.

I'll try that. I usually do it in the evening when I have time but maybe that's when everyone else is doing it too.

If the website keeps giving you problems, you might need to call and have them file it over the phone. I know calling is a nightmare right now though.

Nothing announced yet, but extended benefits can kick in automatically if the state unemployment rate stays elevated for a certain period. It's based on federal formulas.

Let's hope it doesn't get to that point. Extended benefits usually mean the economy is in really bad shape.

Age discrimination is real even though it's illegal. Older workers often end up on unemployment longer through no fault of their own.

My dad is going through this right now. 58 years old, tons of experience, but can't even get interviews. Washington ESD benefits don't last forever either.

Glad it worked for you too! It's frustrating that we have to use outside services to reach our own state agencies, but at least there's a solution.

How much does something like that cost? I'm worried about spending money when I'm unemployed.

It was worth it to finally get answers. Much cheaper than the stress and lost time from calling hundreds of times myself.

True, but this feels different from normal seasonal fluctuations. The layoffs seem more permanent this time.

I hope you're right about it leveling off. This uncertainty is killing me.

What's the difference? I thought unemployed was unemployed.

If you quit voluntarily or get fired for misconduct, you might be disqualified from benefits. Layoffs due to lack of work are usually straightforward approvals.

This is important info. Companies sometimes try to make layoffs look like firings to avoid paying into unemployment insurance.

That's got to be confusing for Washington ESD claims. Starting and stopping benefits every few weeks when temp assignments end.

It is. And it creates more work for Washington ESD staff to process all these claim reopenings and closures.

Thanks for all the insights everyone. This thread has been really helpful for understanding what's going on.

Agreed. Good to know I'm not alone in worrying about this situation.