MN HF3377

Commissioner of Employment and Economic Development must design and implement a comprehensive unemployment and underemployment measure by July 1, 2015, to be used by the Labor Market Information Office.

New measurement must include data on part-time workers who would prefer full-time employment and unemployed individuals not actively seeking work due to barriers like lack of childcare, transportation, or health insurance costs.

Measurement must track unemployment and underemployment at state and substate levels across demographic categories including race, age, and gender.

Commissioner must provide monthly reports to legislative committees on workforce issues comparing traditional U-3 unemployment rates with the new comprehensive measure.

Up to $150,000 from unemployment insurance administration funds may be used to implement the expanded measurement requirements.