PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — Unemployment officials in New Jersey are denouncing a study that found the state ranked dead last when it comes to getting a live representative on the phone to answer questions.
A study from the University of Chicago found New Jersey unemployment officials picked up the phone less than 20% of the time.
Prof. Devin Pope helped run that study. "We decided to do a mystery shopping-type approach," he said.
Pope explained they had a team of study assistants make the calls in every state and keep track of the results. He added there was no there was no correlation between the number of calls answered and a state's size or population density.
In a statement, a New Jersey unemployment spokesperson questioned the validity of the study, citing its small sample sizes and noted that representatives connected with more than 8,700 callers daily during July. The state also provides many resources online.
Read the full study below.
Republican state Sen. Kristin Corrado, of the 40th District, said issues with unemployment and other state agencies are clear to just about anyone who has reached out for help.
"I'm really disappointed to hear that we're dead last, 50 out of 50, but I’m not surprised at all," she said. "We are still fielding calls on a daily basis from constituents for various departments of the state because our residents can’t get through to anybody."
In case you were wondering, Pennsylvania was in the middle of the pack at about 50% of calls answered.