UI State Performance Excellence Awards

Unemployment Insurance State Performance Excellence Awards are given to the top performing state workforce agencies (SWA) nationwide in key areas of unemployment insurance (UI) operations.


The awards criteria reflect the breadth of the UI system and the performance areas most critical to its success. In the 2008 performance year changes were made to the UI Performance Recognition system allowing for recognition of the top-performing agency from small states, medium-sized states, and large states. Current state size categories are updated annually based on the criteria for state size calculation. Most recently, Data Validation was added as a factor to be considered in assessing SWA performance to demonstrate the UI program's commitment to maintaining excellent data quality.


The Honorees recognized this year have demonstrated top performance in the following categories:

  • Timely, proper, and high-quality nonmonetary determinations and benefit payments;
  • Timely and high-quality Appeals decisions;
  • High quality Tax operations; and
  • Excellence and significant improvement in Program Integrity.

FY 2020 Performance Awards Categories and Awardees

Performance Excellence in Benefit Payments

  • Utah Department of Workforce Services
  • Missouri Department of Labor and Industrial Relations

Performance Excellence in Appeals Decisions

  • South Dakota Department of Labor & Regulation
  • Utah Department of Workforce Services
  • Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development

Performance Excellence in Tax Operations

  • Utah Department of Workforce Services
  • Texas Workforce Commission

Performance Excellence in Integrity

  • Utah Department of Workforce Services
  • Missouri Department of Labor and Industrial Relations

Significant Improvement in the Improper Payment Rate

  • Job Service North Dakota
  • Nevada Department of Employment, Training & Rehabilitation
  • Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity