Is it time to upgrade your career skills?

According to a MSNBC news article new job creation slowed down in July and didn’t meet the expectations predicted in January by economists. Construction, manufacturing, retailing and government jobs seemed to have the most job loses. However, Edward Lazear, chairman of the White House’s Council of Economic Advisers, said businesses are still eager to hire and the want of new employees “is still very strong.”

One of the potential reasons for the loss of jobs and weak hiring outcome is said to be directly tied to the decline of the housing market, seesawing economic activity and high energy prices.

The bad news in July

• Construction companies slashed 12,000 jobs
• Manufacturers shed 2,000
• Retailers cut a thousand.
• Approximately 28,000 government jobs were eliminated.

The good news in July

• Education and health care added 39,000 jobs
• Leisure and hospitality expanded employment by 22,000
• Professional and business services added 26,000 new positions.

Hiring new employees has cooled off in July and has pushed the nation’s unemployment up to 4.6 percent, a six-month high. The average time unemployed people spent in their job searches was 17 weeks in July, which is up from 16 weeks in June.

So wile the employment news is pretty ad there is anther side that many unemployed people don’t know about. The Federal-State Unemployment Insurance Program provides unemployment benefits to eligible workers and has many programs they may assist you in advancing, strengthen or even changing careers if eligible. In addition, many states have Federal-State funded career centers (in California their called One-Stop Career Centers) which has a big kiddie box of career tools that will help you locate a job, build career skills and prepare you for your new job.

One-Stop Career Centers are sort of a one shopping mall for all career needs. Most centers offer assistance in

• Job search assistance
• Job listings
• Access to phones, Internet, printers, fax machines, copy machines
• Career & job workshops
• Information on wages and trends
• Community resources
• Referrals to other services

Unemployment offices offer benefits such as

• One-on-one specialists to identify your skills and help find a job
• Veterans with disabilities program
• Workforce Investment Act (WIA)

If you qualify for WIA you can receive assistance in / with

• Tutoring, study skills training, and instruction leading to completion of secondary school
• Alternative school services
• Job & education mentoring
• Locating internships, apprenticeships, and job shadowing
• Occupational skills training
• Leadership development
• Guidance counseling
• Supportive services and follow up

Unemployment also has what is called Unemployment Insurance Extended Benefits

Unemployment Insurance Extended Benefits

“Extended Benefits are available to workers who have exhausted regular unemployment insurance benefits during periods of high unemployment. The basic Extended Benefits program provides up to 13 additional weeks of benefits when a State is experiencing high unemployment.”

Other U.S. Department of Labor programs include

Disaster Unemployment Assistance

Special programs for individuals in disaster areas declared by the President.

Trade Readjustment Allowances

Federal program for workers unemployed because of U.S. trade policies.

Self Employment Assistance

Special voluntary state programs in a few states for workers starting a business

Look up your states Employment Development Department website and see what your state has to offer. They’re your benefits, you’ve earned it!

Extra

Career One Stop: Provides a suite of tools for people to use at any stage in their career