Title
Equity in Unemployment Insurance Benefit Access
Upjohn Author ORCID Identifier
Publication Date
6-13-2023
Abstract
We investigate the uneven pattern of access to unemployment insurance (UI) by age, gender, race, and ethnicity across the United States. We present results from a descriptive analysis using publicly available data reported by states over time on rates of UI recipiency and characteristics of UI beneficiaries. Recipiency measures the proportion of all unemployed who are receiving UI benefits. We find suggestive evidence that UI recipiency shares are lower than unemployment shares for females, youth, and Blacks. We offer program reforms that could be adopted by all states and required by the federal government to improve UI recipiency rates.
Publisher
American Economic Association
DOI
10.1257/pandp.20221010
Issue Date
May 2022
Subject Areas
UNEMPLOYMENT, DISABILITY, and INCOME SUPPORT PROGRAMS; Unemployment insurance; Benefits and duration; Job search
Citation
O'Leary, Christopher J., William E. Spriggs, and Stephen A. Wandner. 2022. "Equity in Unemployment Insurance Benefit Access." AEA Papers and Proceedings 112: 91-96. Pittsburgh, PA: American Economic Association. http://dx.doi.org/10.1257/pandp.20221010