LINCOLN — Gov. Pete Ricketts has brought back job search requirements for unemployed Nebraskans earlier than once planned.
The governor issued an executive order Monday reinstating pre-pandemic requirements for people claiming jobless benefits, effective next week.
He had suspended those and other unemployment insurance requirements in mid-March as part of the state’s response to the coronavirus outbreak. The suspension had been slated to cover unemployment claims filed through Aug. 1.
But in his new order, Ricketts said that Nebraska is in Phase 3 of reopening the economy and that employers are currently listing more than 30,000 available jobs. Reimposing the job search requirements, he said, “will facilitate the prosperity of Nebraskans and the economy.”
The new order means that unemployed workers must do at least five “work search activities” each week to receive unemployment checks. Qualifying activities include filing job applications, searching for jobs online, attending a job skills class or workshop, or meeting with a job coach or career counselor.
The requirements apply to workers receiving regular unemployment and the additional $600 weekly pandemic unemployment benefits. They also apply to self-employed and “gig” workers receiving special pandemic unemployment benefits and to those getting extended weeks of benefits.
First-time unemployment claims in Nebraska set new records in March and April as the coronavirus wreaked economic havoc. Weekly claims spiked at more than 27,000 in early April as the governor imposed social distancing measures, including the temporary closure of some businesses.
To help laid-off workers and slow the virus’s spread, Ricketts waived some of the usual requirements for unemployment benefits. Except for the job search requirements, the waivers remain in effect through the end of this month.
The waivers allowed workers to receive benefits if they went unpaid because of the coronavirus, and workers were also not required to take an unpaid week, meaning that benefits started with the week they applied. Employers were not charged for benefits paid to people whose unemployment was tied to the coronavirus, and claims could be approved based on a person’s most recent job, rather than all of their jobs in the last five calendar quarters.
Nebraska's 49 state senators

Nebraska has 49 state senators in the Legislature. Click through to find your state senator and others.
Julie Slama

District 1: State Sen. Julie Slama
From: Peru
Party: Republican
Robert Clements

District 2: State Sen. Robert Clements
From: Elmwood
Party: Republican
Carol Blood

District 3: State Sen. Carol Blood
From: Bellevue
Party: Democratic
Robert Hilkemann

District 4: State Sen. Robert Hilkemann
From: Omaha
Party: Republican
Mike McDonnell

District 5: State Sen. Mike McDonnell
From: Omaha
Party: Democratic
Machaela Cavanaugh

District 6: State Sen. Machaela Cavanaugh
From: Omaha
Party: Democratic
Tony Vargas

District 7: State Sen. Tony Vargas
From: Omaha
Party: Democratic
Megan Hunt

District 8: State Sen. Megan Hunt
From: Omaha
Party: Democratic
Sara Howard

District 9: State Sen. Sara Howard
From: Omaha
Party: Democratic
Wendy DeBoer

District 10: State Sen. Wendy DeBoer
From: Bennington
Party: Democratic
Ernie Chambers

District 11: State Sen. Ernie Chambers
From: Omaha
Party: Independent
Steve Lathrop

District 12: State Sen. Steve Lathrop
From: Omaha
Party: Democratic
Justin Wayne

District 13: State Sen. Justin Wayne
From: Omaha
Party: Democratic
John Arch

District 14: State Sen. John Arch
From: La Vista
Party: Republican
Lynne Walz

District 15: State Sen. Lynne Walz
From: Fremont
Party: Democratic
Ben Hansen

District 16: State Sen. Ben Hansen
From: Blair
Party: Republican
Joni Albrecht

District 17: State Sen. Joni Albrecht
From: Thurston
Party: Republican
Brett Lindstrom

District 18: State Sen. Brett Lindstrom
From: Omaha
Party: Republican
Jim Scheer

District 19: State Sen. Jim Scheer
From: Norfolk
Party: Republican
John McCollister

District 20: State Sen. John McCollister
From: Omaha
Party: Republican
Mike Hilgers

District 21: State Sen. Mike Hilgers
From: Lincoln
Party: Republican
Mike Moser

District 22: State Sen. Mike Moser
From: Columbus
Party: Republican
Bruce Bostelman

District 23: State Sen. Bruce Bostelman
From: Brainard
Party: Republican
Mark Kolterman

District 24: State Sen. Mark Kolterman
From: Seward
Party: Republican
Suzanne Geist

District 25: State Sen. Suzanne Geist
From: Lincoln
Party: Republican
Matt Hansen

District 26: State Sen. Matt Hansen
From: Lincoln
Party: Democratic
Anna Wishart

District 27: State Sen. Anna Wishart
From: Lincoln
Party: Democratic
Patty Pansing Brooks

District 28: State Sen. Patty Pansing Brooks
From: Lincoln
Party: Democratic
Kate Bolz

District 29: State Sen. Kate Bolz
From: Lincoln
Party: Democratic
Myron Dorn

District 30: State Sen. Myron Dorn
From: Adams
Party: Republican
Rick Kolowski

District 31: State Sen. Rick Kolowski
From: Omaha
Party: Democratic
Tom Brandt

District 32: State Sen. Tom Brandt
From: Plymouth
Party: Republican
Steve Halloran

District 33: State Sen. Steve Halloran
From: Hastings
Party: Republican
Curt Friesen

District 34: State Sen. Curt Friesen
From: Henderson
Party: Republican
Dan Quick

District 35: State Sen. Dan Quick
From: Grand Island
Party: Democratic
Matt Williams

District 36: State Sen. Matt Williams
From: Gothenburg
Party: Republican
John Lowe

District 37: State Sen. John Lowe
From: Kearney
Party: Republican
Dave Murman

District 38: State Sen. Dave Murman
From: Glenvil
Party: Republican
Lou Ann Linehan

District 39: State Sen. Lou Ann Linehan
From: Elkhorn
Party: Republican
Tim Gragert

District 40: State Sen. Tim Gragert
From: Creighton
Party: Republican
Tom Briese

District 41: State Sen. Tom Briese
From: Albion
Party: Republican
Mike Groene

District 42: State Sen. Mike Groene
From: North Platte
Party: Republican
Tom Brewer

District 43: State Sen. Tom Brewer
From: Gordon
Party: Republican
Dan Hughes

District 44: State Sen. Dan Hughes
From: Venango
Party: Republican
Sue Crawford

District 45: State Sen. Sue Crawford
From: Bellevue
Party: Democratic
Adam Morfeld

District 46: State Sen. Adam Morfeld
From: Lincoln
Party: Democratic
Steve Erdman

District 47: State Sen. Steve Erdman
From: Bayard
Party: Republican
John Stinner

District 48: State Sen. John Stinner
From: Gering
Party: Republican
Andrew La Grone

District 49: State Sen. Andrew La Grone
From: Gretna
Party: Republican
martha.stoddard@owh.com, 402-473-9583