Unemployment Insurance Messaging Information Intervention

We conduct an online information provision experiment with a sample of unemployed, non-UI claiming but likely-eligible job seekers. We cross-randomize messages to respondents which (1) seek to de-stigmatize UI benefits and (2) temper job finding expectations by providing information about average job finding rates for the unemployed and highlighting the difficulty of job search. We assess whether exposure to these messages shifts beliefs about stigmatized attitudes towards UI and job finding expectations. Lastly, we assess whether exposure to these messages shifts a respondent’s likelihood of claiming UI.

2024-10-04

2024-10-25

Subjective 1-month and 3-month job finding probability
Five item Likert scale: “Unemployment insurance is similar to programs like car insurance, which require regular payments so you have a cushion in bad times.” from “Very Similar” to “Very Dissimilar”
Five item Likert scale: “Unemployment insurance is similar to welfare programs like food stamps, which transfer money from haves to have-nots.” from “Very Similar” to “Very Dissimilar”
Five item Likert scale: “After taking this survey, how likely would you be to apply for UI benefits?” from “Very unlikely” to “Very likely”
Time spent looking at an embedded screenshot of the U.S. Department of Labor informational flyer about unemployment insurance
Whether a respondent clicked on the link to the flyer itself

We have conducted two types of treatments in this survey – the “guilt” message and the “search” message – which aim to de-stigmatize UI benefits and provide information about expected job finding rates for unemployed job seekers, respectively. The online survey respondents are cross-randomized into one of four groups for the information provision experiment. One quarter of respondents are randomly exposed to both a “guilt” message and a “search” message. One quarter are randomly exposed to only the guilt message, one quarter are randomly exposed to only the search message, and the remaining quarter are exposed to neither message. After exposure to the messages (if applicable), all respondents are then asked to report their subjective job finding probability. All respondents are also asked several questions regarding their attitudes towards UI benefits that relate to stigmatized beliefs. Lastly, respondents are assessed on their interest about applying for UI benefits along numerous dimensions.

The “Guilt” Treatment
The “guilt” treatment reads as follows, where respondents must read the following statement and cannot advance to subsequent pages until 10 seconds:

Did you know...
UI benefit amounts are based on your work history – not on financial need. While you worked, your employer paid taxes into the unemployment insurance trust fund for this purpose.

The “Search” Treatment
The “search” treatment reads as follows, where respondents must read the following statement and cannot advance to subsequent pages until 10 seconds:

Did you know...
Searching for work can take a long time and your state unemployment office wants to help you apply for benefits. Statistically, job seekers who have been unemployed for two months typically remain jobless for another three months.

Measuring Interest in UI Benefits
We measure the interest in applying for UI benefits through 1) time spent looking at an informational flyer about UI from the US Department of Labor and 2) directly asking for self-reported likelihood of applying.

Randomization is done by the Qualtrics software with a computer.

Randomization is conducted at the individual level.

No

N/A

800 individuals

200 in control, 200 duration, 200 guilt, 200 guilt + duration