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More than 700 people attended three recent Rapid Response webinars aimed at helping workers affected by the 43-day federal government shutdown.
Attendees learned about unemployment benefits, health care options, training, job searching and more during the three webinars, which took place Oct. 23, Oct. 30 and Nov. 7.
Most attendees were state employees who are federally funded, and other federal, state, private and Tribal entities also tuned in.
Between Oct. 1 and Nov. 20, Employment Security received 2,890 unemployment benefits claims from federal workers. That’s a 400% increase in claims from federal workers compared to that same period in 2024.
During that time, Employment Security paid $4.4 million in benefits to 1,466 claims for federal workers.
Employment Security Department partnered on the webinars with the Pacific Mountain Workforce Development Council, the Workforce Development Council of Seattle-King County, Workforce Central, Washington Healthplanfinder, Washington State Community & Technical Colleges and the Washington State Labor Council.
The webinars were part of the state’s Rapid Response efforts for large layoffs. Rapid Response is a collaboration of state and local agencies and programs that provide support to people who have lost their jobs or face potential workforce reductions.
Employment Security and partners also hosted five webinars earlier this year for state of Washington employees and contractors. The webinars, which also drew hundreds of attendees, aimed to help state workers who were laid off, facing a furlough or expecting a workforce reduction.
Read more about services for laid off workers on esd.wa.gov.