myjobcontacts › States
How many job searches are required for unemployment in each state?
Short answer: Most states ask for 2 to 5 job contacts or work search activities a week. Pick your state for what counts, how to report it and what happens in an audit. Your claim notice has your exact number.
| State | Per week | Where they go |
|---|---|---|
| Alabama | 3 | Typed in when you request payment |
| Alaska | 2 | Typed in when you request payment |
| Arizona | 4 | Typed in when you request payment |
| Arkansas | 5 | Typed in when you request payment |
| California | – | Keep your own log |
| Colorado | – | Typed in, and keep a log |
| Connecticut | 3 | Typed in when you request payment |
| Delaware | 1 | Typed in, and keep a log |
| District of Columbia | 2 | Typed in, and keep a log |
| Florida | 5 | Typed in when you request payment |
| Georgia | 3 | Typed in when you request payment |
| Hawaii | 3 | Typed in when you request payment |
| Idaho | 5 | Typed in when you request payment |
| Illinois | – | Keep your own log |
| Indiana | 2 | Keep your own log |
| Iowa | 4 | Typed in when you request payment |
| Kansas | 3 | Typed in when you request payment |
| Kentucky | 5 | Typed in, and keep a log |
| Louisiana | 5 | Typed in, and keep a log |
| Maine | 1 | Typed in, and keep a log |
| Maryland | 3 | Typed in when you request payment |
| Massachusetts | 3 | Typed in, and keep a log |
| Michigan | 3 | Typed in when you request payment |
| Minnesota | – | Keep your own log |
| Mississippi | 3 | Typed in when you request payment |
| Missouri | 3 | Typed in when you request payment |
| Montana | 1 | Typed in, and keep a log |
| Nebraska | 5 | Typed in when you request payment |
| Nevada | 3 | Typed in, and keep a log |
| New Hampshire | – | Typed in, and keep a log |
| New Jersey | 1 | Keep your own log |
| New Mexico | 2 | Typed in, and keep a log |
| New York | 3 | Typed in, and keep a log |
| North Carolina | 3 | Typed in when you request payment |
| North Dakota | – | Typed in, and keep a log |
| Ohio | 2 | Typed in, and keep a log |
| Oklahoma | 2 | Keep your own log |
| Oregon | 5 | Typed in when you request payment |
| Pennsylvania | 3 | Keep your own log |
| Rhode Island | 3 | Keep your own log |
| South Carolina | 2 | Typed in when you request payment |
| South Dakota | 2 | Typed in, and keep a log |
| Tennessee | 4 | Typed in when you request payment |
| Texas | 5 | Keep your own log |
| Utah | 4 | Typed in when you request payment |
| Vermont | 3 | Typed in when you request payment |
| Virginia | 2 | Typed in when you request payment |
| Washington | 3 | Keep your own log |
| West Virginia | 4 | Typed in, and keep a log |
| Wisconsin | 4 | Typed in when you request payment |
| Wyoming | 2 | Keep your own log |
Keep every job contact in one place
myjobcontacts is a free work search log. Pick your state and it shows how many contacts you still need this week, reminds you before you request payment, and prints a clean log if your state ever asks for it. No sign-up. Your list stays on your phone.
Start my free logQuestions
How many job searches are required for unemployment?
It depends on your state. Most states ask for 2 to 5 a week. A few ask for 1, and a few, like California, don’t set a number. Your claim notice gives your exact number.
Which states changed their work search rules in 2026?
Arkansas: Since January 1, 2026, you must enter all 5 work search activities on your weekly certification (Act 708). Louisiana: Raised from 3 to 5 work search activities a week for claims filed on or after January 4, 2026 (Act 151). Michigan: Raised from 1 to 3 work search activities a week starting July 19, 2026. Texas: Raised from 3 to 5 work search activities a week in most counties (TWC rule change effective August 10, 2026).