Unemployment
Unemployment insurance (UI) is a shared federal-state system that provides partial wage replacement and reemployment services to workers who lose their jobs through no fault of their own and who are able to work, available to work, and actively seeking work.
Unemployment insurance task force final report
The National Academy of Social Insurance Unemployment Insurance Task Force, comprised of 24 leading UI experts from across the political spectrum, began its work in late 2020 in the midst of the chaos that the COVID-19 pandemic wreaked on our nation’s Unemployment Insurance system to find solutions to build a more stable system that would not be susceptible to the myriad failures experienced during the pandemic. The purpose of this Task Force was to review and analyze issues that the UI system has faced both historically and during the pandemic, as well as potential policy solutions, how those solutions might work, and might be perceived.
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Latest on Unemployment Insurance
July 2024
The National Academy of Social Insurance Unemployment Insurance Task Force, comprised of 24 leading UI experts from across the political spectrum, began its work in late 2020 in the midst of the chaos that the COVID-19 pandemic wreaked on our nation’s Unemployment Insurance system to find solutions to build a more stable system that would not be susceptible to the myriad failures experienced during the pandemic. The purpose of this Task Force was to review and analyze issues that the UI system has faced both historically and during the pandemic, as well as potential policy solutions, how those solutions might work, and might be perceived.
June 2022
This fact sheet outlines labor policy options that, if enacted, could strengthen economic security.
April 2020
The online discussion was anchored by several brief presentations on each area, with a Q&A moderated by Bill Arnone, Chief Executive Officer. Participants contributed questions throughout the webinar.
Addressing Benefits Disparities
March 10, 2022
While they appear gender neutral, certain factors tend to factors tend to pose particular barriers for women. Three factors, in particular, can impede women’s protection by unemployment insurance.
June 19, 2020
The protests sweeping the United States (and cities around the world) over the past couple of weeks reflect not just rightful outrage over the heinous murders of George Floyd and others.
April 9, 2020
State Unemployment Insurance (UI) programs support individual workers between jobs and serve an important role in supporting the economy as a whole during downturns.
Gaps in UI Coverage
February 11, 2022
Elaine Weiss looks at the unique and steady progress New Jersey’s state policymakers have made in reforming the unemployment insurance program there.
April 8, 2020
Researchers have been sounding the alarm about weaknesses in our Unemployment Insurance (UI) program for many years. Unfortunately, it has taken a pandemic for state governments and Congress to pay attention. As a result, this core social insurance program will not be able to perform its key functions – supporting individual workers and their families in challenging times and acting as a financial cushion – to full effect. Workers, especially the most vulnerable ones, will suffer more harm than they should in the coming months, and the nation’s economy will not receive the much-needed boost it could and should have.