Those collecting unemployment in Oregon and Washington will soon need to prove they're actively seeking work.
Author: Katherine Cook
Updated: 11:31 PM PDT July 2, 2021
PORTLAND, Ore. — Changes are coming for those who collect unemployment in Oregon and Washington. Soon they'll be required to once again prove that they’re actively trying to find work. It's a change many business owners hope will bring relief to a huge problem they're facing: a massive hiring shortage.
Help wanted signs are everywhere and many employers — especially restaurant owners — are offering $1,000 signing bonuses, higher wages and other incentives to entice employees.
It's a course reversal from just months ago when the pandemic forced several businesses to close. There were layoffs and furloughs — in some cases, rehires followed by more layoffs. Since then, state unemployment checks have been sustaining thousands of people who lost their jobs, while the need for recipients to prove they’re looking for work has been suspended.