Workers receiving unemployment benefits must prove they are actively searching for work or risk losing them, according to the Oklahoma Employment Security Commission (OESC).

Shelley Zumwalt, OESC Executive Director, told a group that participated in a ZOOM call last week that the commission needs employers to report open jobs to them. According to Zumwalt, clients must prove they made an “exhaustive” search for work in order to continue to receive unemployment benefits. If the OESC is able to show that jobs are available but the claimant has not accepted one of them, the agency may terminate the flow of benefits.

Zumwalt added that the termination of benefits only applies when skill levels and experience are comparable. For example, an out of work engineer would not be required to take a position as a city water line repair laborer.

The Seminole Chamber of Commerce hosted a job fair last week, and only 45 job seekers attended. Chamber CEO Amy Britt attributed the smaller-than-anticipated turnout to the recent extension of unemployment benefits. Under the American Rescue Plan passed in March, those not working are eligible to receive $300 per week on top of standard unemployment benefits.

“I think the somewhat low turnout was due to the continued unemployment benefits. Some of the companies that were here said they are seeing the same issue at other job fairs. There are a lot of jobs out there, but some people who are able to work aren’t worried about being out of a job because of the continued benefits,” Britt said.

Seminole City Manager Steve Saxon, who also serves as director of the Seminole Economic Development Council, was on the ZOOM call with Zumwalt and shares the same sentiment as Britt.

“I agree with many employers that we have a whole lot of eligible employees waiting on the sideline until their benefits are exhausted. Many of these eligible employees could and should be taking positions that were available yesterday,” Saxon said.

Employers should report open jobs by contacting the local OESC office at (405) 382-4670. To report someone who has been offered a job but did not take it, call (405) 521-5547.