It's a good question, though -- are gig workers filing inflating the numbers?
If I do MSing as a gig, and file for unemployment....well, it's confusing. I've always considered my MSing as "part-time" -- I rarely work over 10 days a month (I mean on the road actual work; I tend to not count my time on the computer, because, frankly, I might be on the computer an hour, but only spent 10 minutes actually signing up with a new company or searching job boards). Normally, I would never even think about filing for unemployment, like after my car broke down last year. I missed at least two full months of MSing before I could arrange transportation. Legally, I'm not "in" the "workforce", I'm just part of the "gig economy". My work, or lack of it, wouldn't ordinarily show up in any statistics.
But I applied, because I'm eligible to apply. Does that mean I'm part of that 17.4% unemployment rate? In that case, the figure is inflated.
There are plenty of shops. Unfortunately, I can't drive 6 hours roundtrip and spend $40 on gas to complete one $14 shop. I'm sincerely hoping that doesn't count as a "refusal of work", which would disqualify me from the unemployment.