myjobcontacts › States › Arkansas

How many job searches do you need for unemployment in Arkansas?

What counts as a work search in Arkansas

• Applying for a job that fits your skills (sending an application or resume)
• Going to and finishing a job interview
• Going to a job fair (only one job fair counts per week)
• Job skill training at an Arkansas Workforce Center
• Training with an approved training provider for an in-demand job

What doesn’t count

• More than one job fair in the same week (only one counts)

More on this in what counts as a work search contact.

How to report your job contacts

You enter your 5 work search activities in LAUNCH (or give them on Arkline) as part of each weekly certification. You can record activities in LAUNCH any time during the week. They are subject to audit, so keep your own notes and confirmations too.

When: File your weekly certification starting Sunday for the week that just ended (Sunday through Saturday). It is due by 11:59 p.m. Central Time on the Saturday 14 days after the week ends.

Where: Arkansas LAUNCH (online) or Arkline (phone).

When the search starts: Every week you file a weekly certification.

Keep a work search log

ADR’s form is the Weekly claim form with job contact list (ESD-ARK-502 RB). It asks for: date, employer name, address and phone/website, method of contact, type of work, results.

The free myjobcontacts app keeps the same details and prints them in the same columns as ADR’s form. Prefer paper? Use the free printable work search log.

Who doesn’t have to search

• Your employer cut you to part-time and promised you full-time work again within 10 weeks
• Your employer cut your hours and you still work at least 8 hours for that employer in the week
• You have a written promise of a job that starts within 10 weeks, and you give the state the employer's statement
• You are a union member whose hiring hall makes contacts for you (you still must show proof of the contacts)

Union members: If you belong to a union, your union hiring hall representative can make job contacts for you as your agent. You must give the state your union and hiring hall details and proof of the contacts. The 2026 handbook says to email union documents to ADWS.UI.Hotline@arkansas.gov.

See work search exemptions for how these work in other states.

Reviews, audits and RESEA

By law the state audits at least 100 weekly work search reports every week. It may contact the employers you listed. If an audit finds wrong or incomplete activities, you get a decision and may have to repay benefits.

RESEA: You may be picked at random for RESEA. You get a letter and an email with a virtual appointment with a Training Instructor, who helps you make a job plan, look for jobs and update your resume. If you skip it, your benefits may be delayed or stopped for that week.

What to expect: unemployment work search audits.

If you miss your number

If you do not complete and report 5 activities in a week, you are not eligible for benefits for that week. Giving false work search information is fraud.

Sign up with the job bank

You must register for work in Arkansas LAUNCH. Since January 1, 2026, your LAUNCH account must list your work experience, credentials or licenses, and other job information. Arkansas LAUNCH.

Questions people in Arkansas ask

How many job searches are required for unemployment in Arkansas?

You must do at least 5 work search activities each week. Since January 1, 2026, state law says you must enter all 5 as part of your weekly certification in LAUNCH or on Arkline.

What counts as a work search in Arkansas?

Applying for a job that fits your skills (sending an application or resume); Going to and finishing a job interview; Going to a job fair (only one job fair counts per week); Job skill training at an Arkansas Workforce Center, and 1 more on the list above. Check your notice for anything your state added for you.

Do I have to keep a work search log in Arkansas?

You enter your 5 work search activities in LAUNCH (or give them on Arkline) as part of each weekly certification. You can record activities in LAUNCH any time during the week. They are subject to audit, so keep your own notes and confirmations too.

What happens if I don’t do enough job searches in Arkansas?

If you do not complete and report 5 activities in a week, you are not eligible for benefits for that week. Giving false work search information is fraud.

Who doesn’t have to look for work in Arkansas?

Your employer cut you to part-time and promised you full-time work again within 10 weeks. Your employer cut your hours and you still work at least 8 hours for that employer in the week. You have a written promise of a job that starts within 10 weeks, and you give the state the employer's statement. Your notice will say if this applies to you.

Does Arkansas check or audit work search records?

By law the state audits at least 100 weekly work search reports every week. It may contact the employers you listed. If an audit finds wrong or incomplete activities, you get a decision and may have to repay benefits.

Checked against ADR’s own pages and rules on November 6, 2026. We could not confirm who doesn’t have to search, how long to keep your records, the union rule on an official page, so check your notice for those.

Work search rules in every state

myjobcontacts is not a government website and this is not legal advice. Rules change, and your own claim notice or letter is what counts. If something here doesn’t match what your state told you, follow your state.