Unemployment Insurance Is for Workers Unemployed Through No Fault of Their Own
The Fact
The U.S. Department of Labor describes unemployment insurance as a program for workers who are unemployed through no fault of their own, as determined under state law. Workers who quit generally do not qualify unless state law recognizes a good-cause reason.
What This Means
People who leave a job — even one that stopped paying enough — usually cannot collect unemployment. They also do not show up in layoff counts.
Why It Matters
When workers are squeezed until they quit, the job loss can disappear from the numbers most people watch.
Sources
U.S. Department of Labor. “Unemployment Insurance.” https://www.dol.gov/general/topic/unemployment-insurance