The weekly work search rule in Oregon
At least 5 work search activities each week. At least 2 of the 5 must be direct contacts with employers, which means asking about work or applying for jobs the way the employer wants.
When you file your weekly claim, you list each work search activity. For each direct employer contact you give the employer's name, job title, location, date, how you made contact and the result. For other activities you give the date and a short description. In Frances Online you enter them there; by phone you say them after the weekly claim questions.
File and certify on the Oregon Employment Department site. The rules can change, so check OED's work search page if a letter from them says something different.
| Oregon rule | |
|---|---|
| Each week | At least 5 work search activities each week. At least 2 of the 5 must be direct contacts with employers, which means asking about work or applying for jobs the way the employer wants. |
| How you report it | When you file your weekly claim, you list each work search activity. For each direct employer contact you give the employer's name, job title, location, date, how you made contact and the result. For other activities you give the date and a short description. In Frances Online you enter them there; by phone you say them after the weekly claim questions. |
| Enter each activity online | Yes, each activity goes into the state system |
| Keep records | Keep track of your work search each week. The Employment Search Record form is optional, but you must keep records and report your activities on your weekly claims. OED may ask for more details or check your employer contacts at any time. |
| Agency | Oregon Employment Department |
Source: Oregon Employment Department (unemployment.oregon.gov), checked 2026-10-20.
What counts as a work search activity in Oregon
Oregon Employment Department lists these:
- Applying for a job that fits your skills
- Interviewing for a job
- Reporting to a union hiring hall if you are a registered member
- Reemployment services at your state workforce center
- Networking or updating your resume
- Reviewing job placement websites or newspapers
Who does not have to search for work in Oregon
If you are a member in good standing of a closed union, you keep in contact with your union instead. If you are temporarily unemployed and will return to full-time work (or work paying at least your weekly benefit amount) within four weeks of the week you became unemployed, you keep in contact with your employer instead. Training Unemployment Insurance removes the work search requirement while you attend school full time.
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 Oregon
If you want to train for a new job, WIOA can pay for approved training if you qualify. See how WIOA works in Oregon.
Approved training is on OED's list of exemptions above, so ask OED before you start.