The primary purpose of this article is to analyze the desirability of privatizing state unemployment insurance (UI) programs to determine if unemployed workers would be better off under a private, competitive system rather than under the present public system. Although several private unemployment insurance programs are now in existence, formidable obstacles must be overcome in order to have a viable, competitive UI system that would replace the present public system. Since it is unlikely that these obstacles can be overcome, the present UI system is likely to be retained. However, if state UI programs are retained, substantial improvements are necessary.