The legislature finds and declares that:

(1) The number of persons unemployed in the state is significantly above the national average.

(2) Persons who are unemployed represent a skilled resource to the economy and the quality of life for all persons in the state.

(3) There are jobs available in the state that can be filled by unemployed persons.

(4) A public labor exchange can appreciably expedite the employment of unemployed job seekers and filling employer vacancies thereby contributing to the overall health of the state and national economies.

(5) The Washington state job service of the employment security department has provided a proven service of assisting persons to find employment for the past fifty years.

(6) Expediting the reemployment of unemployment insurance claimants will reduce payment of claims drawn from the state unemployment insurance trust fund.

(7) Increased emphasis on assisting in the reemployment of claimants and monitoring claimants’ work search efforts will positively impact employer tax rates resulting from the recently enacted experience rating legislation, chapter 205, Laws of 1984.

(8) Special employment service efforts are necessary to adequately serve agricultural employers who have unique needs in the type of workers, recruitment efforts, and the urgency of obtaining sufficient workers.

(9) Study and research of issues related to employment and unemployment provides economic information vital to the decision-making process.

(10) Older workers and the long-term unemployed experience greater difficulty finding new employment at wages comparable to their prelayoff earnings relative to all unemployment insurance claimants who return to work.

(11) After a layoff, older unemployed workers and the long-term unemployed workers fail to find unemployment insurance-covered employment at a much higher rate than other groups of unemployment insurance claimants.

The legislature finds it necessary and in the public interest to have a program of job service to assist persons drawing unemployment insurance claims to find employment, to provide employment assistance to the agricultural industry, and to conduct research into issues related to employment and unemployment.

Reviser’s note: This section was amended by 1987 c 171 § 1 and by 1987 c 284 § 1, each without reference to the other. Both amendments are incorporated in the publication of this section pursuant to RCW 1.12.025(2). For rule of construction, see RCW 1.12.025(1).

Conflict with federal requirements—1987 c 171: “If any part of this act is found to be in conflict with federal requirements which are a prescribed condition to the allocation of federal funds to the state or the eligibility of employers in this state for federal unemployment tax credits, the conflicting part of this act is hereby declared to be inoperative solely to the extent of the conflict, and such finding or determination shall not affect the operation of the remainder of this act. The rules under this act shall meet federal requirements which are a necessary condition to the receipt of federal funds by the state or the granting of federal unemployment tax credits to employers in this state.” [ 1987 c 171 § 7.]

Severability—1987 c 171: “If any provision of this act or its application to any person or circumstance is held invalid, the remainder of the act or the application of the provision to other persons or circumstances is not affected.” [ 1987 c 171 § 8.]

Conflict with federal requirements—1985 ex.s. c 5: “If any part of this act shall be found to be in conflict with federal requirements which are a prescribed condition to the allocation of federal funds to the state, such conflicting part of this act is hereby declared to be inoperative solely to the extent of such conflict, and such finding or determination shall not affect the operation of the remainder of this act.” [ 1985 ex.s. c 5 § 16.]

Severability—1985 ex.s. c 5: “If any provision of this act or its application to any person or circumstance is held invalid, the remainder of the act or the application of the provision to other persons or circumstances is not affected.” [ 1985 ex.s. c 5 § 17.]