Governor Issues Executive Order To Help North Carolinians Return To Work

Exec. Order No. 216 Expands Work Search Guidelines to Connect All Unemployment Claimants with Employers, Jobs

RALEIGH – Governor Roy Cooper today issued an Executive Order directing the Department of Commerce to encourage and help people who are receiving unemployment benefits transition back into employment.

“Unemployment benefits have provided a critical lifeline for many North Carolinians living on the edge due to the pandemic. As our state emerges from the pandemic, we want to help people safely return to work as soon as possible. Reinstating the work search guidelines will help connect claimants with employers, resources and tools to help them return to the workforce,” said Governor Cooper.

Under Executive Order 216, all existing claimants of unemployment benefits will be required to fulfill work search requirements beginning June 6, 2021. All existing claimants will be required over the next several weeks to register with a jobseeker account on NCWorks.gov.

The Order also directs the N.C. Department of Commerce to explore opportunities, consistent with federal law and through the use of certain federal funds, to establish a reemployment incentive program for jobless workers who find and maintain employment.

Today’s action expands upon Governor Cooper’s Executive Order 200, which reinstated work search requirements for new claimants after March 14, 2021. As North Carolina makes progress on its key COVID-19 metrics, the work search requirements will now apply to everyone currently filing for unemployment benefits.

Under the Order:

Claimants must make contact with at least three different employers each week and keep a record of their work search, as is required by state law. One of the three weekly job contacts can be satisfied by attending an approved reemployment activity offered by a NCWorks Career Center or a partnering agency.

To continue receiving benefits, all unemployment claimants will be required to register with a jobseeker account on NCWorks.gov, North Carolina’s online portal for employment and training services. Jobseekers can use NCWorks.gov to search and apply for jobs, access labor market information and find opportunities for workforce training. Over the next several weeks, existing claimants will receive notifications about registering for NCWorks.

Since the start of the pandemic, North Carolina has distributed more than $11.7 billion in unemployment benefits across multiple state and federal programs. Approximately 245,000 North Carolinians are currently receiving benefit payments each week.

For work search assistance in North Carolina, jobseekers can contact NCWorks at NCWorks.gov or 1-855-NCWorks. Information about unemployment benefits can be found at des.nc.gov.

5 COMMENTS

  1. “Governor Roy Cooper today issued an Executive Order directing the Department of Commerce to encourage and help people who are receiving unemployment benefits transition back into employment.”

    Just give folks a cutoff date on when benefits will end and they’ll start looking for a job.

    • Exactly!!!! Cut off the free money, extra food stamps and rental assistance and ALL the rest of the FREE crap and their tails will be standing at the time clock ready to go to WORK!

  2. Hey Cooper! When are you going to allow people in assisted living to leave the facility? I haven’t hugged my mother in over a year! It’s completely BS! People can go & do whatever the h*ll they won’t but my mother can’t come to my home for a visit!!

    • I agree. If Cooper will not allow your mom to leave, then go get her and let her live with you. Make sacrifices and have your mom at home all the time. But if you have allowed the government to not let you hug your mother in over a year, that’s your own fault.

      • I agree with Doc, go get your mother if you really want to see her, and quit blaming it on somebody else.

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