Making Labor Day extra special for Washington's workforce

While news from the Job Front may be a bit bleak across the country, our state's Employment Security Department is doing all it can to help employers find help, and help the unemployed make an employment connection.

Already this year, WorkSource has helped more than 4,000 job seekers navigate the complex hiring process at Boeing and other firms through special workshops in Skagit, Snohomish, King, Kitsap and Pierce counties.

In Snohomish County alone, the heart of Washington’s aerospace industry, 22 percent report getting hired after using the important skills they learned.

There is similar success for recently discharged veterans. In the Tri-Cities, WorkSource workshops taught by military veterans show fellow vets how to master lengthy and complicated civilian job applications. More than half of those receiving such services have been hired.

And new training partnerships between WorkSource, community colleges and private companies are helping other vets get jobs in software testing in Redmond and advanced composite manufacturing in Bremerton.

“Labor Day is a good time to reflect on the status of our work force and the effectiveness of our workforce development efforts,” said state Employment Security Director Paul Trause. “We may not be able to create jobs for businesses, but we can help employers and job seekers fill the vacancies that exist as quickly as possible.”

WorkSource is a statewide partnership of Employment Security, local workforce development councils, other state and local agencies, colleges and nonprofit organizations that work together to provide free employment and training services to job seekers and employers.

WorkSource also can help employers recruit and screen for qualified workers, apply for employment tax breaks and qualify for subsidized employee training. Learn more at: http://www.go2worksource.com/