Examines how state workforce agencies served large numbers of unemployed workers during the years after the Great Recession, despite declining program and administrative resources.
Surveys of state Unemployment Insurance (UI) administrators and workforce administrators indicated that “state agencies used various combinations of approaches in response to declining federal grants during the Great Recession. For example, a few states supplemented federal funding with their own funds while others increased automation, changed the mix of services provided, and decreased the number of workers served” (p.1). (Abstractor: Author and Website Staff)

Major Findings & Recommendations

• “Most state workforce agencies did not supplement federal funding” (p.18). • “Less intensive workforce services replaced more intensive services, with training and intensive services declining substantially. States, however, tried to maintain core services, Employment Services, and Reemployment Services” (p.19). • The majority of state workforce agencies “reduced one-on-one staff assisted services, replacing some with automated and group services” (p.19). • “Funding for (UI) administration was inadequate: two-thirds of states reported staff reductions in at least one major functional area, often in the initial and continued claims core business functions” (p.19). • States responded to declining funding by increasing automation of UI administration and reducing customer service. While many states reported increased efficiency and improved service as a result of UI automation, few believed that customer service improved (p.19). (Abstractor: Author and website staff)