Washington jobless who exhausted benefits still lack work

OLYMPIA, Wash. — Thousands of Washington workers who have exhausted their unemployment benefits still do not have jobs.

An Employment Security Department report released Thursday shows that 75 percent of people who have run out of benefits since November 2009 are still out of work.

Employment Security Commissioner Paul Trause said the numbers contradict the perception that unemployed workers wait until their benefits run out before quickly finding jobs.

Officials sent the survey to more than 30,000 people who have exhausted their benefits. The results are based on 5,000 people who responded to the questionnaire.

Many of the claimants had access to nearly two years worth of unemployment benefits.