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The report of impact evaluations aimed to assess the effectiveness of behaviorally-informed communications – such as a pop-up alert and emails – in increasing unemployment insurance (UI) claimants’ compliance with work search requirements.

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Research Questions

• Can light-touch behavioral interventions—that is, behavioral interventions that can be delivered with limited resources and minimal burden on staff—increase UI claimants’ knowledge of work search requirements?
• Can behavioral interventions help reduce improper payments due to work search errors?
• What can we learn about implementing behavioral interventions in the UI system?

Key Takeaways

• The effect of the COVID-19 pandemic limited what researchers were able to learn in these behavioral studies.
• Quantitative data suggests that the interventions had limited impact.
• Although most participants were exposed to the main intervention (in North Carolina, a weekly pop-up alert or hyperlink to a tip sheet outlining what counts as valid employer contacts and adequate proof for different modes of contact; in Washington, a one-time email sent to claimants), only a small share clicked on embedded links to access additional information.
• Qualitative findings indicate that the UI work search presents a promising area for additional testing of behavioral interventions.
• These trials demonstrate the feasibility of quickly deploying behavioral interventions whose effectiveness is measured with administrative data.
• State administrative data can be useful but requires investment to assess potential.
• Early engagement activities with program staff as well as users (non-staff) may improve intervention design.
• State partners reported the collaborative design process to apply behavioral principals was useful.

Citation

Amin, S., Chojnacki, G., Congdon, B., Davis, S., Langan, A., Deutsch, J., Welch, E., Spitzer, A., Johnson, A. (2022). Mathematica. Behavioral Interventions to Improve Work Search Among UI Claimants: Results from North Carolina and Washington. Chief Evaluation Office, U.S. Department of Labor.

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The Department of Labor’s (DOL) Chief Evaluation Office (CEO) sponsors independent evaluations and research, primarily conducted by external, third-party contractors in accordance with the Department of Labor Evaluation Policy and CEO’s research development process.