<p>INDIANAPOLIS — Indiana residents receiving unemployment benefits will again have to show they are actively searching for work as the governor Tuesday reinstated a requirement that he lifted soon after the COVID-19 pandemic hit the state.</p>
<p>Gov. Eric Holcomb signed an executive order that puts the job search requirement back in place starting June 1.</p>
<p>Indiana is joining <a href="https://apnews.com/article/lifestyle-coronavirus-pandemic-health-business-government-and-politics-1f092b895c281c13c87ff3dfa6279f62">several other states</a> creating more requirements for people to stay on unemployment, with many businesses blaming the ease of obtaining the weekly jobless benefits with making it more difficult to fill job openings.</p>
<p>Holcomb said last week he was directing the state Department of Workforce Development for a demographic analysis of unemployed residents while he considered whether to withdraw Indiana from a $300-a-week supplemental federal payment on top of state benefits. The maximum state payment is $390 a week.</p>
<p>“Our unemployment rate stands at 3.9 percent, which is near pre-pandemic levels, and our labor force mirrors pre-pandemic levels, when we also had worker shortages,” Holcomb said in a statement.</p>
<p>The governor’s new order means that those seeking unemployment benefits must submit a weekly report on their job-seeking efforts, which can include applying for work, attending job fairs or participating in state workshops.</p>
