Short answer. Make one work search contact each week, within the week claimed and on a day hiring is normally done. Don't use the same employer two weeks in a row unless the employer asks you to. Request weekly payment at uiclaimant.mt.gov, and be able to produce your work search records when the State of Montana asks.
1 a week
Montana minimum, per Montana Department of Labor & Industry, Unemployment Insurance Division (checked November 2026)
Montana work search rules at a glance
- Agency
- Montana Department of Labor & Industry, Unemployment Insurance Division
- Each week
- Make one work search contact each week, within the week claimed and on a day hiring is normally done. Don't use the same employer two weeks in a row unless the employer asks you to.
- How to report
- Request weekly payment at uiclaimant.mt.gov, and be able to produce your work search records when the State of Montana asks.
- Keeping records
- Keep the record of your work search contacts for 3 years in case your claim is selected for an audit.
- Job bank
- MontanaWorks (Job Service) (required). Register and stay actively registered with your local Job Service; check in at least every 90 days.
What counts in Montana
- Completing a job application
- Submitting a résumé
- Contacting a person with hiring authority, for work you're willing and qualified to do, where you'll work
- Registering with a temp agency (only the week you first sign up)
Doesn't count in Montana:
- Seeking self-employment
- Only reading ads and identifying employers
- Registering with Job Service or other agencies
When Montana may not require a search
- Department-approved training (you must register and search again if training ends, isn't in session or you miss 30 days)
- Job or union attachment through a hiring hall (keep in contact; union dues current and on the out-of-work list)
The agency decides whether any of these applies to you; don't assume one does until it tells you.
What to write down for each Montana contact
Montana Department of Labor & Industry, Unemployment Insurance Division lists these details. The log below uses them as its columns:
- Date
- Employer or organization
- Address, website or email
- Phone
- Person contacted
- Job title or type of work
- Result
- Proof kept
Print this week's Montana log
Pick a day to build this week's Montana log.
Not stated on the Montana pages we checked: an official log form. Check the official links below or your notice from the agency.
Official Montana links
Last checked November 2026.
General information checked against the official Montana pages above. It's an organizer, not legal or benefits advice: the state agency decides whether your search meets its rules, and your own notices from it come first. MCC Solutions isn't affiliated with any state agency. The log builder runs in your browser; nothing you enter is sent or saved.
Montana work search questions
How many work search activities does Montana require each week?
Make one work search contact each week, within the week claimed and on a day hiring is normally done. Don't use the same employer two weeks in a row unless the employer asks you to.
What counts as a work search activity in Montana?
Montana Department of Labor & Industry, Unemployment Insurance Division lists: completing a job application; submitting a résumé; contacting a person with hiring authority, for work you're willing and qualified to do, where you'll work; registering with a temp agency (only the week you first sign up). It doesn't count: seeking self-employment; only reading ads and identifying employers; registering with Job Service or other agencies.
How do I report my work search in Montana?
Request weekly payment at uiclaimant.mt.gov, and be able to produce your work search records when the State of Montana asks.
How long should I keep my Montana work search records?
Keep the record of your work search contacts for 3 years in case your claim is selected for an audit.
Do I have to register with MontanaWorks (Job Service)?
Yes, per Montana Department of Labor & Industry, Unemployment Insurance Division. Register and stay actively registered with your local Job Service; check in at least every 90 days.
Who doesn't have to search for work in Montana?
The official page lists: department-approved training (you must register and search again if training ends, isn't in session or you miss 30 days); job or union attachment through a hiring hall (keep in contact; union dues current and on the out-of-work list). The agency decides whether one applies to you.
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