🇺🇸 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 31 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
- 31 / 44Sources
- Arkansas5
- Idaho5
- Oregon5
- Arizona4
- Iowa4
- Utah4
- Wisconsin4
- Alabama3
- Connecticut3
- Georgia3
- Hawaii3
- Maryland3
- Massachusetts3
- Michigan3
- Mississippi3
- Missouri3
- New York3
- North Carolina3
- Rhode Island3
- Vermont3
- Washington3
- Alaska2
- District of Columbia2
- Indiana2
- Oklahoma2
- South Carolina2
- South Dakota2
- Wyoming2
- Delaware1
- Maine1
- New Jersey1
| Source | Figure | Census region | Read |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arkansas | 5 a week | South | |
| Idaho | 5 a week | West | |
| Oregon | 5 a week | West | |
| Arizona | 4 a week | West | |
| Iowa | 4 a week | Midwest | |
| Utah | 4 a week | West | |
| 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 | |
| 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 | |
| Rhode Island | 3 a week | Northeast | |
| 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 | |
| Oklahoma | 2 a week | South | |
| South Carolina | 2 a week | South | |
| South Dakota | 2 a week | Midwest | |
| Wyoming | 2 a week | West | |
| Delaware | 1 a week | South | |
| Maine | 1 a week | Northeast | |
| New Jersey | 1 a week | Northeast |
Read, but no figure published (20)
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
- Floridacould not be read (DOCUMENT)
- Illinoissets no fixed weekly number
- Kansascould not be read (DOCUMENT)
- Kentuckycould not be read (BLOCKED)
- Louisianacould not be read (BLOCKED)
- Minnesotasets no fixed weekly number
- Montanaread in full; the page does not state this figure
- Nebraskaread in full; the page does not state this figure
- Nevadacould not be read (DOCUMENT)
- New Hampshirecould not be read (DOCUMENT)
- New Mexicocould not be read (DOCUMENT)
- North Dakotasets no fixed weekly number
- Ohioread in full; the page does not state this figure
- Pennsylvaniaread in full; the page does not state this figure
- Tennesseeread in full; the page does not state this figure
- Texassets no fixed weekly number
- Virginiaread in full; the page does not state this figure
- West Virginiaread in full; the page does not state this figure
The sentences as published
- Arkansas:
WORK SEARCH You are required to participate in at least (5) qualifying work search activities per week to receive UI benefits.
(September 26, 2026, sha 56f1fb2f0f9b36e9) - Idaho:
You must complete five (5) work search actions each week even if you are working part-time.
(September 26, 2026, sha 23306e6c4c2e6a0d) - Oregon:
Looking for work 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 a2445c1b81182ffe) - Utah:
You should make at least four new full-time job contacts each week.
(September 26, 2026, sha 36f03a5c53ef80ee) - 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:
Understanding & Completing the Weekly Work Search Requirement 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) - Maryland:
Required Job Search Activities 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:
If you don’t complete 3 work search activities, you won’t be eligible for benefits that week.
(September 26, 2026, sha cad871aa2066505a) - 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:
A reemployment activity can count toward one of your three weekly employer contacts.
(September 26, 2026, sha 3aad08ca0ebb321e) - Rhode Island:
You must complete 3 work search activities each week.
(September 26, 2026, sha 0b2593b802c4276a) - Vermont:
Searching for Work 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:
How to track your job search activities Each week you submit a claim you need to complete 3 job search activities.
(September 26, 2026, sha 60f7c4655626208b) - Alaska:
How many work search activities to report for each week claimed TWO (2) work search activities must be reported when:
(September 26, 2026, sha 745fa8f244460010) - District of Columbia:
Once the claimant resumes performing at least two valid work search contacts each week, eligibility can continue.
(September 26, 2026, sha a6676fbeef04888c) - Indiana:
Complete two Work Search Activities each week.
(September 26, 2026, sha 7c2de4f47ff66b94) - Oklahoma:
Receiving Unemployment Benefits Search for Work For each week of unemployment, conduct and keep a record of at least two work search efforts.
(September 26, 2026, sha b3b48b40fbdb1c25) - South Carolina:
In Week 1, complete two work searches 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) - 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) - New Jersey:
You must contact at least one different employer each week.
(September 26, 2026, sha 64a0ceb1d2beae9b)
Methodology
Every row is a sentence quoted verbatim from the named official page, read on the date shown and pinned to a hash of the page text we read. 31 of the 44 sources that could be read state the figure; 13 do not and are listed as not published, never filled in; 7 could not be read and count nowhere. 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 31 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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