Free Employment Services for Job Seekers and the Underemployed

County and City Job Services Can Help Workers and Job Seekers

Some unemployed persons say that there are no jobs, even during months over seven million of them are posted across Internet sites alone. In addition, some jobs are never posted online. American does not have enough openings for everyone that needs a job, but some jobs are available, even though competition for them is high.

In order to secure employment during a recession, visit one of your local branches of your county Workforce Investment Act entities. Look in the County Government Pages of your local telephone directory or call Information.

County Agencies Help People Work

In the USA, this system or agency was formerly called "Jobs and Family Services", or the "County Jobs Offices", or similar nomenclature.

The Workforce Investment Act provides funding to county governments in order to provide job seeker services on the county and city levels.

Before the 21st century, the Private Industry Council handled E & T [Employment and Training] through the legislation that was in place before the WIA. This legislation was the Job Training Partnership Act and it was voted out of existence and/or permitted to expire by the US Congress during the Bill Clinton Administration, a period of eight years ending in January 2001, when George W. Bush became POTUS.

Current government Employment and Training Program funding legislation was voted on by the US Congress during the Bill Clinton Administration circa 1998, although many people blamed George W. Bush for the demise of the Private Industry Council (PIC) E&T programs and the large Summer Youth Employment Programs.

A few county and city PIC organizations across America still operate and serve job seekers, but most were absorbed by the County Jobs Services, and County Family or Child Services agencies.

All individuals that visit a WIA office are to be interviewed and screened for basic services, including job search and job placement. If these services are not adequate, the WIA staff is to then evaluate job seekers for additional, in-depth services that may include job training and High School Diploma or GED education. If you go in and do not receive these two-tiered services and feel that you need them, then speak up.

Also lodge a complaint to your State Congressmen, if you do not receive results from WIA.

Where to Look for Work

Each state in the country needs certain job titles filled, using on a continual basis as openings increase.

Many states need health & medical workers and/or computer based workers. Some need construction workers and supervisors very badly. I will highlight a few states at the end of this Hub.

Healthcare sectors will need tremendous amounts of new employees through at least AD 2100. Why? The Millennial Generation born roughly 1980 - 2000 is approximately as large as the Baby Boom Generation (1945 - 1964); the Boomers created the long-term healthcare shortage experienced form 1980 into the 21^st century and it did not stop.

The Millennials will live longer than the Boomers in average lifespan, therefore being subject for a longer period of time to the diseases of Old Age. In AD 2100, many of the Millennials born in AD 2000 will be 100 years old and likely to live to 105 or 108 (the maximum average age built into human DNA is 113, on average).

If you have never worked in healthcare, attend a two-week adult education course and earn a State Certificate as a Home Health Aide or Personal Aide. In fact, WIA offices (county jobs agencies) may provide funds to pay for your training. When you visit such an office, go early in the morning, because long lines form quickly.

The work is hard and you may not enjoy it, but don't stop there. As soon as you are placed in a HHA position, apply to local hospitals to become an aide on staff. Once you secure that job, begin to work your way up immediately; check the job postings in the HR corridor (they nearly always have a job board outside in the hallway).

If you can be hired by a teaching hospital connected with a university, you can apply to the nursing program and likely be reimbursed for tuition each quarter if you maintain a reasonable grade point average.

You will also likely receive paid time off from the job in order to attend classes. If you have never attended college before, you can benefit from basic grants and some scholarships available in your state and town. Keep working your way up until you find a nursing, technician's or physician related career that you desire.

Travel nursing pays one's rent or mortgage and additional benefits as well as even higher wages in the already well paid nursing and medical positions it fills. Sometimes, you can be a "traveler" at your own home hospital and enjoy these extra benefits.

The new Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) was signed into law in July 2014. It updates and replaces the WIA, but the name "WIA" is sometimes still used.

Save and invest your money if Healthcare does not lead to your dream job so that you can change careers a bit later. The skills you learn are transferable to many other responsible jobs.

In similar fashion, one can become a Carpenters Helper and enter a union apprenticeship program and work up to Journeyman in a construction trade. WIOA Should also provide help with finding such opportunities.

WIOA Training Providers operate in all states and the District of Columbia.

Apprenticeship programs include:

• Carpentry/Carpenter
• Construction Trades, General
• Electrical & Power Transmission Installers, Other
• Electrical, Electronics And Communications Engineering
• Electrician
• Heating, Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Technology/Technician
• Heating, Air Conditioning, Ventilation And Refrigeration Maintenance Technology/Technician
• Ironworking/Ironworker
• Mason/Masonry
• Painting/Painter and Wall Coverer
• Pipefitting/Pipefitter And Sprinkler Fitterplumbing And Related Water Supply Services
• Plumbing Technology/Plumber
• Sheet Metal Technology/Sheetworking
• Telecommunications Technology/Technician

Examples of US STATE resources for use in accessing county offices online quickly:

• Michigan Works! - Michigan State and County Labor Departments
• Workforce New York
• Pennsylvania Workforce
• Search for your own US State and WIB

Some Specific County Workforce Agencies

• Baltimore Workforce Investment Board
• Ventura Workforce Investment Board
• [search for WIB and your city or county]

Some PICs (Private Industry Council offices) that are still open:

• Oakland Private Industry Council - Home
• Boston Private Industry Council
• Indianapolis Private Industry Council
• Private Industry Council of Milwaukee County
• [Search for "Private Industry Council" and your county or city name.]