Released on
If you claim unemployment benefits, you have seen the term “suitable work” a lot. Each week you claim benefits, unless we tell you otherwise, you need to actively seek suitable work. You also need to be ready, able and willing to immediately accept any suitable work offered.
But what is suitable work? And what work is not suitable?
Work that is suitable
Suitable work is any job in your usual occupation that meets all of the following standards:
1. Meets the usual wage for your location and labor market
For example, maybe you found a job that will pay you $70,000 annually. In your area, jobs like it pay $60,000 to $80,000 annually on average. The job may well count as suitable.
But the job would not count as suitable if it only paid $35,000 annually.
2. Meets usual working conditions for your location and labor market
For example, maybe you usually work as a bartender. You got a job with hours from 3 p.m. until midnight. Bartenders often work evenings, so the job may count as suitable.
But what if you were an accountant and got a job offer with those hours? Unless you live in an area with a lot of late-night accountants, it probably is not suitable.
3. Is in line with your experience or training
For example, maybe you have a degree in computer science and you have been a software developer for your entire work history. If you got a job offer to program software, it may count as suitable work.
But if you got an offer to work as a graphic designer, it likely is not suitable. Graphic designers have different skills than what your training and experience gave you.
Work that is not suitable
Work is not suitable if:
- It is not in line with your training and experience.
- You do not have a valid license required for the job.
- It is unreasonably dangerous or you physically cannot do the work.
- It would offend your morals.
- You need to join or resign from a labor union.
- The offered position is vacant directly due to a strike, lockout or other labor dispute.
- The hours or working conditions are not as favorable as most other jobs in your occupation in your area.
- It is farther than the usual commuting distance for people in your occupation in your area.
- The wages offered are lower than the wages common for that occupation in your area.
But if there are no jobs in your preferred occupation, any job you qualify to do may become suitable work. We use labor market data when we decide this takes effect. If it does take effect, you may need to accept a job offer outside of your normal occupation to qualify for benefits.
Suitable work and benefit eligibility
Searching for work
When you claim benefits, you need to meet the job search requirements unless we tell you otherwise. We might deny your benefits if you are not making a genuine attempt to find suitable work.
Refusing job offers
You need to accept an offer of suitable work if you are on benefits. If you refuse a job offer, the employer can report it to us. If that work was suitable, we may deny your benefits.
For work that is not suitable, you can turn it down and still qualify for benefits. At least, as long as you meet all of the eligibility requirements.
Labor market information
If you are not sure if a job is suitable or not, learn about the labor market in your area. We have a wealth of labor market information across Washington state.