🇺🇸 US Unemployment Work Search Index 2026
How many job contacts a week does unemployment require? Every state, 2026
The median US state requires 3 work search contacts a week to keep unemployment benefits, across 44 states that set a weekly number (range 1 to 5), read from each state’s own rules on September 26, 2026.
- 3Median · work search contacts a week
- 1 to 5Range · work search contacts a week
- 44 / 51Sources
- Arkansas5
- Florida5
- Idaho5
- Kentucky5
- Louisiana5
- Nebraska5
- Oregon5
- Arizona4
- Iowa4
- Tennessee4
- Utah4
- West Virginia4
- Wisconsin4
- Alabama3
- Connecticut3
- Georgia3
- Hawaii3
- Kansas3
- Maryland3
- Massachusetts3
- Michigan3
- Mississippi3
- Missouri3
- New York3
- North Carolina3
- Pennsylvania3
- Rhode Island3
- Texas3
- Vermont3
- Washington3
- Alaska2
- District of Columbia2
- Indiana2
- New Mexico2
- Ohio2
- Oklahoma2
- South Carolina2
- South Dakota2
- Virginia2
- Wyoming2
- Delaware1
- Maine1
- Montana1
- New Jersey1
| Source | Figure | Census region | Read |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arkansas | 5 a week | South | |
| Florida | 5 a week | South | |
| Idaho | 5 a week | West | |
| Kentucky | 5 a week | South | |
| Louisiana | 5 a week | South | |
| Nebraska | 5 a week | Midwest | |
| Oregon | 5 a week | West | |
| Arizona | 4 a week | West | |
| Iowa | 4 a week | Midwest | |
| Tennessee | 4 a week | South | |
| Utah | 4 a week | West | |
| West Virginia | 4 a week | South | |
| Wisconsin | 4 a week | Midwest | |
| Alabama | 3 a week | South | |
| Connecticut | 3 a week | Northeast | |
| Georgia | 3 a week | South | |
| Hawaii | 3 a week | West | |
| Kansas | 3 a week | Midwest | |
| Maryland | 3 a week | South | |
| Massachusetts | 3 a week | Northeast | |
| Michigan | 3 a week | Midwest | |
| Mississippi | 3 a week | South | |
| Missouri | 3 a week | Midwest | |
| New York | 3 a week | Northeast | |
| North Carolina | 3 a week | South | |
| Pennsylvania | 3 a week (2 job applications + 1 work search activity) | Northeast | |
| Rhode Island | 3 a week | Northeast | |
| Texas | 3 a week | South | |
| Vermont | 3 a week | Northeast | |
| Washington | 3 a week | West | |
| Alaska | 2 a week | West | |
| District of Columbia | 2 a week | South | |
| Indiana | 2 a week | Midwest | |
| New Mexico | 2 a week | West | |
| Ohio | 2 a week | Midwest | |
| Oklahoma | 2 a week | South | |
| South Carolina | 2 a week | South | |
| South Dakota | 2 a week | Midwest | |
| Virginia | 2 a week | South | |
| Wyoming | 2 a week | West | |
| Delaware | 1 a week | South | |
| Maine | 1 a week | Northeast | |
| Montana | 1 a week | West | |
| New Jersey | 1 a week | Northeast |
Read, but no figure published (7)
These sources were checked and do not state the figure. Who publishes is itself a finding.
- Californiasets no fixed weekly number
- Coloradosets no fixed weekly number
- Illinoissets no fixed weekly number
- Minnesotasets no fixed weekly number
- Nevadasets no fixed weekly number
- New Hampshiresets no fixed weekly number
- North Dakotasets no fixed weekly number
The sentences as published
- Arkansas:
You are required to participate in at least (5) qualifying work search activities per week to receive UI benefits.
(September 26, 2026, sha 56f1fb2f0f9b36e9) - Florida:
If you live in a county with more than 75,000 people, you must contact at least five (5) prospective employers every week.
(September 26, 2026, sha 032a5050249bf083) - Idaho:
You must complete five (5) work search actions each week even if you are working part-time.
(September 26, 2026, sha 23306e6c4c2e6a0d) - Kentucky:
You must seek full-time work and make at least five job search activities per week.
(September 26, 2026, sha 87c1cb4d5035ca51) - Louisiana:
You must complete at least five work search activities each week.
(September 26, 2026, sha 886df7f937baef3d) - Nebraska:
Five reemployment activities must be completed per benefit week in order to remain eligible for Unemployment Benefits, and two of the activities must be applications for suitable work.
(September 26, 2026, sha 1c1aaf1255506733) - Oregon:
Actively looking for work means completing at least five work-search activities per week.
(September 26, 2026, sha 79eab96e1a00820e) - Arizona:
(b) The individual has made at least one job contact per day on four different days of the week.
(September 26, 2026, sha 7bf5e9d6b0ee408e) - Iowa:
Complete at least four work search activities each week and certify them on iowaworks.gov.
(September 26, 2026, sha 55368119782fae93) - Tennessee:
Unless waived, you must complete the four (4) weekly job searches to be eligible for payment.
(September 26, 2026, sha e5b6fcca430b0631) - Utah:
You are required to make four new full-time employer contacts each week.
(September 26, 2026, sha 36f03a5c53ef80ee) - West Virginia:
Starting July 1, 2024, you must perform at least four (4) work search activities each week to maintain your eligibility for unemployment benefits.
(September 26, 2026, sha 98ee5af799f98fdb) - Wisconsin:
Perform at least four valid Work Search actions each week.
(September 26, 2026, sha 33758ccfd5a8c8ac) - Alabama:
Claimant must provide proof of work search efforts with at least three (3) prospective employers for each week of unemployment claimed.
(September 26, 2026, sha e286945cb5df7e3b) - Connecticut:
You must complete at least three (3) work search activities every week.
(September 26, 2026, sha 46c341d6f316b98a) - Georgia:
You are required to keep a detailed record of your work search activities and submit evidence by Internet or fax of three verifiable contacts as a part of your weekly certification.
(September 26, 2026, sha 63d517721a431e5a) - Hawaii:
Make at least 3 work search contacts per week.
(September 26, 2026, sha 478af0d7300dfbfe) - Kansas:
The Kansas Department of Labor (KDOL) requires that as a condition of eligibility you are required to perform three work search activities each week in order to maintain your eligibility for unemployment benefits under State law.
(September 26, 2026, sha 11aa961e3c805c7b) - Maryland:
When collecting unemployment insurance benefits, you’re required to complete at least 3 job search activities each week, and 1 of them must involve a direct job contact.
(September 26, 2026, sha d5490b28ea5eaaef) - Massachusetts:
Yes, you need to report at least 3 work search activities each week when you file your claim for benefits.
(September 26, 2026, sha 9ee3e1694936096a) - Michigan:
You must conduct at least three unique work search activities each week.
(September 26, 2026, sha 70d98db160414985) - Mississippi:
You MUST contact three (3) employers each week to apply for full time work (35 hours or more).
(September 26, 2026, sha d65db48da0f7d692) - Missouri:
To be eligible for unemployment benefits you are required to complete at least 3 work search activities each week, unless directed otherwise by the Division.
(September 26, 2026, sha 8d49e4238ab68956) - New York:
You must complete and record at least THREE work search activities each week to be eligible for benefits.
(September 26, 2026, sha 828577118cabb066) - North Carolina:
Reach out to at least three job contacts each week and apply for jobs that match your qualifications, knowledge, abilities, and/or skills.
(September 26, 2026, sha 3aad08ca0ebb321e) - Pennsylvania:
Generally, beginning with the third week in your benefit year for which you file a UC claim, you must apply for two jobs and participate in one work search activity each week.
(September 26, 2026, sha 038a222c9bf091d8) - Rhode Island:
You must complete 3 work search activities each week.
(September 26, 2026, sha 0b2593b802c4276a) - Texas:
The minimum number of weekly contacts assigned shall be three work search contacts for all claimants, unless otherwise provided by this section.
(September 26, 2026, sha d0f797d5ad7b4ad0) - Vermont:
Unless you have been excused by the Department from conducting an active work search, you are required to make and report at least three (3) job contacts for each week you file a weekly claim certification.
(September 26, 2026, sha 09bada68c5310fb1) - Washington:
Each week you submit a claim you need to complete 3 job search activities.
(September 26, 2026, sha 60f7c4655626208b) - Alaska:
TWO (2) work search activities must be reported when: the worker lives in Alaska and is within 55 road miles of a job center; or resides in another state, Canada, Puerto Rico or the Virgin Islands.
(September 26, 2026, sha 745fa8f244460010) - District of Columbia:
Claimants are required by Federal and District law to complete at least two (2) verifiable work search contacts each week and keep a record of efforts.
(September 26, 2026, sha a6676fbeef04888c) - Indiana:
Complete two Work Search Activities each week.
(September 26, 2026, sha 7c2de4f47ff66b94) - New Mexico:
Unless exempted by the department, you are required to make a minimum of two different work search contacts every week to qualify for benefits.
(September 26, 2026, sha fd09792ad7e86f26) - Ohio:
Each week individuals request unemployment benefits; they must look for work. Ohio requires them to: • Complete two job-search activities
(September 26, 2026, sha f37c036cecb12d79) - Oklahoma:
For each week of unemployment, conduct and keep a record of at least two work search efforts.
(September 26, 2026, sha ef45bfede1535e7c) - South Carolina:
Each week that you certify for benefits, you are required to actively search for work, which must include completing at least two electronically verifiable work searches in the SC Works Online Services (SCWOS) portal while logged into your SCWOS account.
(September 26, 2026, sha c4bc593003a74da8) - South Dakota:
You must perform at least two work search activities each week you are requesting benefits.
(September 26, 2026, sha 7b2213162e256118) - Virginia:
Make at least two job searches or contacts with employers each week to meet the minimum work search requirement.
(September 26, 2026, sha 2e8b2025464b76c0) - Wyoming:
State rules require you to contact at least two employers each week.
(September 26, 2026, sha 091f0effd2aab315) - Delaware:
Delaware requires one unique work search activity per week.
(September 26, 2026, sha 185cbe6fe0492136) - Maine:
All claimants must conduct at least one work search related activity each week.
(September 26, 2026, sha 88b6889ffb3d6e38) - Montana:
At least one application or resume must be submitted to an employer who is hiring each week.
(September 26, 2026, sha e376a0f056cd900a) - New Jersey:
You must contact at least one different employer each week.
(September 26, 2026, sha 64a0ceb1d2beae9b)
Methodology
Every row is a sentence quoted word for word from the named official page, read on the date shown and pinned to a hash of the page text we read. 44 of the 51 sources we could read state the figure; 7 do not and are listed as not published, never filled in. The headline figures are over one figure per state: the minimum number of work search contacts (or activities) a claimant must make each week, as the state’s own rule or guidance states it. States that set no fixed weekly number are counted in coverage, not in the median.
Cite this data
Cite as: "US Unemployment Work Search Index 2026", Pontia, https://pontia.xyz/us/datasets/us-work-search-index/ (Read September 26, 2026)
Embed
<figure style="margin:0;padding:16px;border:1px solid #d0d4da;border-radius:12px;background:#ffffff;color:#0b0c0e;font:14px/1.5 system-ui,sans-serif"><p style="margin:0 0 6px;font-weight:600;background:#ffffff">US Unemployment Work Search Index 2026</p><p style="margin:0;background:#ffffff">The median US state requires 3 work search contacts a week to keep unemployment benefits, across 44 states that set a weekly number (range 1 to 5), read from each state’s own rules on September 26, 2026.</p><figcaption style="margin-top:8px;font-size:12px;background:#ffffff">Source: <a href="https://pontia.xyz/us/datasets/us-work-search-index/" style="color:#0b0c0e">Pontia</a></figcaption></figure>Cite this page
"US Unemployment Work Search Index 2026", Pontia, https://pontia.xyz/us/datasets/us-work-search-index/ (updated September 25, 2026)
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