The weekly work search rule in Massachusetts
At least 3 work search activities each week. If you do not complete 3, you are not eligible for benefits that week.
Report your activities online in your Unemployment Services for Workers account when you request benefits each week. The paper work search log is no longer required. If you file by phone (TeleCert), the agency says you may want to keep a written record in case DUA asks for it.
File and certify on the Massachusetts Department of Unemployment Assistance site. The rules can change, so check DUA's work search page if a letter from them says something different.
| Massachusetts rule | |
|---|---|
| Each week | At least 3 work search activities each week. If you do not complete 3, you are not eligible for benefits that week. |
| How you report it | Report your activities online in your Unemployment Services for Workers account when you request benefits each week. The paper work search log is no longer required. If you file by phone (TeleCert), the agency says you may want to keep a written record in case DUA asks for it. |
| Enter each activity online | Yes, each activity goes into the state system |
| Keep records | Keep a written record of your work search activities (the type of activity and when you did it) in case staff need to check it. |
| Agency | Massachusetts Department of Unemployment Assistance |
Source: Massachusetts Department of Unemployment Assistance (www.mass.gov), checked 2026-10-20.
What counts as a work search activity in Massachusetts
Massachusetts Department of Unemployment Assistance lists these:
- Submitting an application, resume or letter of interest to an employer or through a job website such as MassHire JobQuest
- In-person visits with employers who might be hiring
- Job fairs, networking events and employment workshops, including MassHire Career Center events
- Interviewing with employers in person, by phone, or online
- Registering for work with private employment agencies or placement services
Who does not have to search for work in Massachusetts
You do not need to report work search activities while you are in a training program approved by DUA.
Keep your work search log free
Write down each activity the day you do it: the date, the employer, how you contacted them, the job, and what happened. If the state asks to see your search, the log is your proof.
The free work search log in Capstone Careers keeps it for you: each application you send through Capstone Careers goes on it by itself, you add the ones you do elsewhere, and you can save the week as a PDF.
Need more applications to reach your number? See openings near you and get a resume written for each one.
Training while you are on unemployment in Massachusetts
If you want to train for a new job, WIOA can pay for approved training if you qualify. See how WIOA works in Massachusetts.
Approved training is on DUA's list of exemptions above, so ask DUA before you start.