AUGUSTA — The Maine Department of Labor announced Thursday it is tightening work search requirements for people on unemployment, reinstating the traditional work search requirements as of Sunday, May 23. Maine had temporarily expanded the types of activities that would meet the work search requirement, adjusting to sudden closings, health concerns, school, childcare and other issues brought about by the coronavirus pandemic. “Thousands of Maine people lost their jobs during the pandemic, through no fault of their own. Now it is our goal to get them back to work,” said Laura Fortman, Commissioner of the Maine Department of Labor. “With vaccines more widely available, and with businesses re-opened now and in need of help – especially with the busy tourism season approaching, we want people to rejoin the workforce, earn a living and aid in our state’s economic recovery.”