Can an employer find unemployment records from the government and dates in a background check and if so how many years back?

I have been wondering the same thing and today I finally reached someone at the unemployment office and got the definitive answer.

The unemployment system is a confidential system and even you as the unemployment claims recipient can not get information on yourself about any unemployment claims.

That being said, as others have mentioned, it is up in the air as to what your previous employer says about you or just as important doesn't say about you, which could be just as important.

I have been having trouble getting a job now while on unemployment and recently performed a background reference check on myself (not inexpensive by the way) in order to find out what past employers and supervisors are saying about me. Everything went fine except for my last supervisor. When questioned he let out a quick laugh and then repeated the company line of not being able to give out a reference and whom to contact. Needless to say I am no longer putting down the exact location I worked at, and just including the main corporate number and a previous supervisor I worked for at the company. In my case it paid to perform this background check, but with a long history it will cost you. Of course if you are only worried about the last job it is more cost effective to do a minimal background. I won't say who I used so you don't think I work for a background checking company, but do research and I am sure you will find plenty that are legit and will do a good job for you.