WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor has released guidance to states on how to promote equitable access for all workers and jobseekers to unemployment insurance programs.In a Nov. 8, 2023, letter to unemployment insurance systems across the nation, the department’s Employment and Training Administration shared best practices for evaluating and enhancing equitable access through all stages in the unemployment insurance claim process to improve customer experience and state workload efficiency. The new guidance includes technical assistance and tools drawn from various department initiatives and state-based partnerships, including those funded by the American Rescue Plan. It also provides an overview of how states can remove barriers related to race, age, ethnicity, language proficiency, disability status, geographic location or other systemic issues that can create obstacles for people seeking to access unemployment benefits. “Ensuring equitable access to unemployment insurance benefits gives workers and their families peace of mind by providing economic stability in the face of job loss,” explained Acting Ass