The Trump administration on Monday proposed new regulations that would require Americans seeking unemployment benefits to complete at least five unique job searches per week, according to the Department of Labor. The proposed rules, set for publication in the Federal Register on Tuesday, represent a significant tightening of work requirements that vary widely across the country. Currently, many U.S. states require two to three qualifying work searches weekly, while only four states require five and some require just one.
The Labor Department said the change is necessary to create uniform eligibility requirements nationwide and to improve program integrity. According to the agency, a national minimum work search standard would strengthen labor market attachment and reduce inconsistencies that lead to confusion and uneven enforcement across states. The department acknowledged that unclear expectations about work search requirements can cause otherwise eligible individuals to fail to meet them simply because they do not understand what is expected.
The proposal allows flexibility in what counts as a work search. Beyond contacting prospective employers directly, registering with or contacting a job placement agency or union would qualify. States can designate additional activities and can also use a points-based system where different activities earn different point values, allowing claimants to reach a minimum of five points per week through various combinations of searches.
Labor advocates strongly opposed the proposal, warning that the higher threshold would be difficult for unemployed people to meet and expensive for states to implement. Michele Evermore, senior director of economic security and worker transitions at the National Employment Law Project, said in a statement that the change would be devastating to claimants who may lack five search options each week. She also noted that nearly all states would need to change their intake forms and technology systems to comply, creating significant costs. Evermore added that employers seek enthusiastic candidates, not applicants simply checking boxes to satisfy work search requirements.
The Labor Department acknowledged that the policy could temporarily raise administrative costs as states and jobless aid applicants adapt to new requirements. The public has 60 days following publication of the proposed rule to submit comments before any final decision is made. For unemployed Americans and states administering jobless aid programs, the proposal could mean either stronger incentives to find work quickly or additional barriers to accessing benefits, depending on how claimants and state administrators navigate the higher requirements.