Weekly work searches will be required again for Ohioans seeking unemployment

Ohio will begin requiring those on unemployment to resume weekly work-search activities to be eligible for benefits later this month.

The move comes as hiring signs go up around the region and hiring bonuses are even being offered at some businesses looking for workers.

>> Will Colonial Pipeline shutdown impact Miami Valley gas?

“Now that Ohioans have had the opportunity to receive the COVID-19 vaccine and can safely return to work, it only makes sense that we restore work-search requirements for everyone,” said Gov. Mike DeWine.

The return to the pre-pandemic requirement for benefits will go into effect the week of May 23, the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services announced.

“Ohio business owners are creating jobs faster than people are returning to the workforce,” said Lt. Governor Jon Husted. “Now that all Ohio adults have access to the vaccine, it’s time to return to the traditional work requirements.”

Allowable work-search activities include applying for a job, attending a resume-writing course, or creating and maintaining a reemployment plan on OhioMeansJobs.com, according to ODJFS.

When the pandemic started in Ohio in mid-March 2020, the federal government authorized states to waive work-search requirements to be eligible for unemployment benefits through Dec. 1. The state had previously re-instated the work-search requirements for new unemployment claims, but had been exempting existing claims.

ODJFS said Ohio law does allow some people to be exempt from conducting work-search activities, including employees on a temporary layoff of 45 days of less and people in approved training.

The department is planning to notify unemployed Ohioans impacted by the change to allow time to understand the requirements and begin the process of weekly work-search activities.

Cox Media Group