Campaign connects affected businesses and workers to job loss recovery solutions
The Workforce Investment Board (WIB) of Southwest Missouri, in partnership with the Missouri Career Center, launched a powerful awareness program Tuesday to promote solutions for job seekers and employers to speed up economic recovery efforts across the region.
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“The digital outreach tools help us rebound from job losses more quickly and effectively,” according to Jasen Jones, WIB Executive Director. “They increase our reach, get our services in the hands of more customers sooner and improve the outcomes for businesses and job-seekers.”
The video outreach efforts of the campaign provide opportunities to strengthen partnerships with chambers of commerce, city leaders, and service agencies. Employers benefit from knowing how the WIB and Career Center can help them grow and also how they can help reduce the sting of potential layoffs or closures.
The awareness project further equips local workforce professionals through the WIB and the Career Center to get the word out to more businesses than ever before on such employer services as video interviewing, applicant screening and computerized job matches, as well as services for job seekers, which include job searching assistance, retraining and various assessments designed to help identify job skills and interests. Many of these services were highlighted during a video presentation that also is offered to employers at www.employerhelp.biz and to job seekers at www.jobseekerhelp.biz.
“We’re very excited to let the public know about the great services available at the Career Center and what we are doing to improve the delivery of those services, said Leslie Abram, Rapid Response and Project Coordinator for the Workforce Investment Board. “It is especially important right now, with the high unemployment rate and so many people in need. We want to do all we can to decrease anxiety for both job seekers and employers.”
The outreach campaign links to other emerging strategies such improving digital literacy so job seekers are able to apply for jobs utilizing computers and the internet; occupational skills training to target skill demands by employers; on-the-job training, which offers immediate job placement with results-oriented training; entrepreneurial training; demand-driven sector testing and screening; technology / internet-based learning; and a summer jobs program for young people who are mentored by experienced workers.
“A common theme among economic recovery initiatives is the need for high-impact, high-volume and low-cost solutions to meet higher system demands for skill and return on investment,” said Jasen Jones, executive director of the WIB. “We’ve risen to meet this challenge with an array of demand-driven economic development strategies.”
If you would like more information about business or job-seeker services, contact Jasen Jones or Leslie Abram at the WIB. For specific business retention assistance or questions, contact Gary Box.