New Jobless Claimants Must Be Looking for a Job

COLUMBUS, Ohio — Any Ohioans applying for unemployment benefits on or after Dec. 6 will be required to conduct work-search activities, according to the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services.

The requirement is because of an expiring section of state law enacted March 16, which waived the requirement because of the COVID-19 pandemic, according to the DJFS. Per an executive order by Gov. Mike DeWine, the work-search requirements will be waived for individuals quarantined or isolated by order of a medical professional, local health authority or employer.

“This will apply to new claims only, and we are providing as much flexibility as possible to claimants,” said ODJFS Director Kimberly Hall. “In addition, it’s important to remember that work-search activities can be conducted virtually – and they should be conducted virtually, to the extent that this is possible, given the current high numbers of COVID-19 cases.”

Allowable work-search activities can include anything from applying for a job to posting a resume on OhioMeansJobs.com. According to DJFS, OhioMeansJobs typically lists more than 100,000 job openings, more than half of which pay more than $50,000 annually.

The requirement is also met if the individual is a member in good standing with a union hiring hall that refers its members to jobs, or if the individual is in approved school or training and is attending all classes and making satisfactory progress.

More detailed information will be posted at Unemployment.ohio.gov.

Published by The Business Journal, Youngstown, Ohio.