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FACT BRIEF

Did Tim Michels say 'it probably takes about 2.6 hours to find a job'?

By Erin Gretzinger
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In an appearance at the Milwaukee Rotary Club, Republican Wisconsin gubernatorial candidate Tim Michels said, "It probably takes about 2.6 hours to find a job" — not 26 weeks, which is the typical amount of time a person who is unemployed can receive state benefits.

A 2019 survey by Randstad, a recruitment agency, found that the average job search took about five months. This survey measured the job search time from when an individual decided to look at other employment options to when they started a new position.

The amount of time spent job searching varies, but the majority of individuals remain unemployed for several weeks. As of September 2022, the average time length of unemployment was 20 weeks, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics found.  While many businesses in Wisconsin have "help wanted" signs, there can be mismatches between available jobs and workers' skills.

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Sources
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel On unemployment, Tim Michels suggests he would support shortening benefit time period
Study Finds Survey: Job hunters take 5 months on average to find employment
US Bureau of Labor Statistics Table A-12. Unemployed persons by duration of unemployment
TopResume How Long It Will Take to Find a Job in 2022
State of Wisconsin Unemployment Benefits | How to Apply and Eligibility Frequently Asked Questions
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Wisconsin Watch, the news arm of the nonpartisan, nonprofit Wisconsin Center for Investigative Journalism, increases the quality and quantity of investigative reporting in Wisconsin, while training current and future investigative journalists. Its work fosters an informed citizenry and strengthens democracy.
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Fact briefs are short, credibly sourced summaries that offer “yes/no” answers in response to claims found online. They rely on publicly available, often primary source data and documents. Fact briefs are created by contributors to Gigafact —a nonprofit project looking to expand participation in fact-checking and protect the democratic process. See all fact briefs here.