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A new law protects the privacy of Washington workers and gives Tribes exemptions to the state’s mass layoff notice requirements.

Gov. Bob Ferguson signed new legislation on Wednesday, March 11, 2026, that eases the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) tax burden on employers.

This guide to applying for benefits is now available in many languages.

More than 700 people attended three recent Rapid Response webinars aimed at helping workers affected by the 43-day federal government shutdown.

Employment Security Department’s benefits programs — such as unemployment benefits and paid family and medical leave — are designed to support workers when they need help the most. Our agency’s fraud management team works every day to ensure these vital resources remain available for those who need them.

Commissioner Cami Feek, Director of Insurance Services JR Richards, and Chief Labor Economist Anneliese Vance-Sherman spoke with media on Oct. 27 about adjusted hours for the unemployment benefits call center.

If we have questions about your eligibility for unemployment benefits, we may set an "issue" on your account. Learn what you need to know when your claim has an issue.

Before you file a weekly claim, you need to have an active unemployment claim. Then, you need to file for each week you want benefits. Learn what you need to know to file your weekly claims for unemployment benefits.

If you are impacted by the partial federal government shutdown, you may be eligible for unemployment insurance (UI) benefits, depending on your situation.

Each week you claim unemployment benefits, you need to look for work unless we tell you otherwise. Learn more about the job search requirements.