Government Relations Office
Our Government Relations Office:
- Receives and responds to constituent inquiries.
- Connects policymakers to subject matter experts.
- Coordinates agency participation in work sessions and hearings.
- Coordinates with our partners in workforce development and training.
Find out more about ESD's 2024 legislative priorities (PDF, 3.68MB).
Constituent inquiries
The most common constituent inquiries we receive are about:
- Eligibility for unemployment insurance benefits or status of claims.
- Unemployment insurance taxes and employer accounts.
- Job placement or job training assistance through WorkSource.
- Employment and other labor market data.
Sending constituent inquiries by email
Please include:
- Facts about the constituent's question or concern.
- Information for us to indentify the constituent, such as: name, middle initial if known, address, phone number, last four of SSN or ESD number, and email address.
- Don't include full Social Security numbers.
Program overviews
Find fact sheets on agency programs, Washington state employers, employees and job seekers.
Unemployment insurance
Unemployed workers can find all the info they need to apply for benefits on our How to apply for unemployment benefits page. Most claims can be filed online.
Information is available in 17 languages. For other languages, call toll free 800-410-0758.
If disability or unusual circumstances makes filing difficult, customers can request reasonable accommodation. Email ESDGPUIAccomms@esd.wa.gov or call toll free 844-395-6698 (WA relay 711) to request.
Claims Center phone assistance
Most people who read and write in English or Spanish should apply for unemployment insurance electronically, but claimants can also call for help. Claims centers offer translation for people who do not read or write in English or Spanish.
There are some kinds of claims that workers need to file by phone:
- If you’ve recently worked in more than one state, you may need to file a combined wage claim.
- If you recently left work due to an injury or illness, you may need to file a temporary total disability claim.
Manage information online
Claimants with an email address can register with Secure Access Washington and create an eServices account for:
- reviewing historical information about their wages and hours they worked.
- Checking their unemployment insurance claim status.
Unemployment benefits and taxes fact sheets
- Unemployment benefits overview (PDF, 104KB).
- Unemployment taxes overview (PDF, 62.6KB).
- Reed Act funds (PDF, 211KB).
- Work Opportunity Tax Credit (PDF, 159KB).
- Fidelity bonds for risky workers (PDF, 123KB).
- Pandemic-era overpayments (PDF, 77.6KB).
WorkSource
WorkSource connects employers and job-seekers, and helps facilitate job readiness and training. ESD is a partner in the WorkSource system, which has offices or affiliates in every county to help connect employers and job seekers online and in-person. ESD's Jobs and training page can help workers find jobs and map out new careers by connecting to a variety of training programs.
To locate a WorkSource Center or affiliate by county, visit the WorkSource locator.
WorkSource fact sheets
- WorkSource system overview (PDF, 222KB).
- Economic Security for All (2024 House Bill 2230) (PDF, 103KB).
Labor market data
ESD's Labor Market Information and Resources (LMIR) division publishes Washington state's labor market information from the Bureau of Labor Statistics and maintains several critical reports and online tools to assist job seekers. The LMIR division provides labor market information for the state and at the county level.