Case Study: State Workforce Development Agency achieves rapid unemployment claim scaling with Rocket Software

State Workforce Development Agency Midwest state keeps benefits coming despite historic unemployment

The State Workforce Development Agency, a midwestern state unemployment agency, faced a historic surge in unemployment claims during COVID-19, jumping from about 3,000 claims per week to roughly 41,000 in the first week after benefits expanded. To keep services running, it relied on Rocket Software mainframe tools, including Rocket Mainstar Catalog RecoveryPlus and Rocket VSAM Quick Index, to support access to critical data and maintain high availability.

Rocket Software helped the agency keep its IBM Z mainframe running reliably and scale capacity on demand without adding new hardware or software. The result was the ability to handle an 11-fold increase in claims and maintain uninterrupted public services, with the agency crediting Rocket Software as a strategic partner in sustaining efficient, scalable operations.