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    Workforce Solutions East Texas Precautions and Service Changes in Response to COVID-19

    Workforce Solutions East Texas • March 18, 2020

    Event Cancellations, Center Closures to the Public, and Service Availability to Individuals with Employment Impacts

    As emergency declarations have been made at the National, State, and with multiple counties in our area due to the Coronavirus (COVID-19), the Workforce Solutions East Texas (WSET) team has mobilized to ensure the health and safety of customers and staff, while ensuring that our business services, early childhood development programs and workforce services, will continue throughout our East Texas region.

    Dr. Robert Haberle, Chairman of the Workforce Solutions East Texas Board, said, “Our hearts are with our communities. Our critical businesses depend upon a skilled and healthy workforce to bring their products to market and an equally healthy customer base to buy those products. WSET will continue to serve our employers by helping workers and those wanting to work in every way possible. We will safeguard the Centers, limit exposure for participants and staff, and still find ways to keep our friends and neighbors in jobs that allow them to bring home a paycheck. We’re here to serve, in the most effective ways possible.”

    The WSET team is committed to meeting the needs of job seekers and employers in our fourteen-county region, and we want to ensure that the health and safety of our customers and staff are taken into consideration in these difficult times. To combat the spread of COVID-19, effective at 8:00 AM, Thursday, March 19th, our workforce centers will close to the public. Although we are not allowing visitors, we will continue to serve WSET customers. At this time, we anticipate the centers will remain closed through May 1st. We invite all job seekers, to continue job search with www.WorkInTexas.com, and to contact our career advisers at 1-844-ETWORKS (844-389-6757) for individual assistance. Staff will be making online service applications, required program orientations, and virtual events available on our website, in the near future.

    If you are a worker whose employment has been disrupted by economic changes caused by COVID-19 concerns, we can assist you in finding new work or training for a higher-skilled role in related industries. WSET provides an array of services and programs that are designed with career development at every stage of your workforce journey, including up-skilling opportunities with local training providers. We can also provide information on unemployment benefits from the Texas Workforce Commission. Please contact TWC’s Unemployment Benefits hotline at 800-939-6631 if your employment has been impacted by COVID-19. 

    For our business community, WSET can assist with customized proactive outplacement services or layoff aversion strategies at no cost. Rapid Response services provide early business-focused intervention assistance designed to transition affected workers to their next employment. Our services are tailored to each company, based on the needs of the affected employees. Please call our Business Services team at 1-844-ETWORKS (844-389-6757), or email employerservices@easttexasworkforce.org, for more information on Rapid Response services for employers.

    For families taking part in our child care and early childhood learning programs throughout the East Texas area, we are working with our child care services providers to ensure a continuum of care for currently enrolled children, as events arise that may lead to a temporary change in a parent’s work, education, or training status. If you have questions, please contact our WSET Child Care Services team for assistance at easttexas.ccs.customers@gmail.com or 1-800-676-8283

    The U.S. Department of Labor has published the "Guidance on Preparing Workplaces for COVID-19" to help reduce the impact of Coronavirus. The guide also provides information to help employers and workers regarding issues they may face, including effects on wages and hours worked under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) and job-protected leave under the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA). Access that guide at: https://www.dol.gov/newsroom/releases/osha/osha20200309

    We have to prepare ourselves for the days ahead and we have taken precautions to maintain the safety and security of our employees and customers as best we can,” said WSET Centers Director, Mary Ann Rojas. “We are so fortunate to have the infrastructure in place to continue to serve our constituents which are located throughout a 14-county region. We will mobilize our call center to assist those needing direct personal assistance. We will have virtual workshops and our Career Edge platform to walk you through any process whether it is helping you with a resume, applying for training assistance or referring to the appropriate services. We are ramping up to have specialists assigned to assist those being laid off and we will continue to work with our employers to find better ways to connect with the job seeker. Meanwhile we will continue to assess the situation daily.”

    WSET will continue to monitor the COVID-19 situation and share important updates and resources on our website at www.easttexasworkforce.org/COVID-19, and through our social media networks. For more information, contact WSET Centers Director, Mary Ann Rojas at (903) 561.8131.

    A woman is standing next to a woman sitting at a desk in a classroom.
    By Workforce Solutions East Texas February 11, 2025
    Workforce Solutions East Texas is bringing back its highly anticipated Windows of Opportunity Job Fair on February 13, 2025. This event will take place simultaneously across all five Workforce Solutions East Texas offices, providing job seekers with direct access to hiring agents from a wide range of industries. The job fair serves as a crucial bridge between local talent and top employers, facilitating face-to-face interactions that allow candidates to explore career opportunities, network with industry professionals, and even secure interviews on the spot. Whether you're looking for a new job, considering a career change, or just starting your job search, the event offers a great opportunity to tap into the vibrant job market of East Texas. The Windows of Opportunity Job Fair will feature a diverse range of employers eager to connect with job seekers in industries such as healthcare, manufacturing, retail, logistics, and more. Below is a list of participating employers by location: 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM Longview Workforce Center 1905 W. Loop 281, Suite 40 , Longview, TX 75604  Express Spherion Staffing Elwood Staffing West Fraser Crossroads Family Care Trinity Rail Thomas Oilfield Services Texas Department of Public Safety Oceans Behavioral Hospital of Longview Community Healthcore 1st Choice Personnel TDCJ Always Best Care Senior Services Cato City of Longview Athens Workforce Center 205 N. Murchison, Suite 101, Athens, TX 75751 Get A Handyman Volt Dr. Power Washer VRS New Health Concept Inc. Henderson Co. Help Center Park Highlands Nursing and Rehabilitation Van Zandt County Sheriff’s Office TDCJ Met-Motivation, Education and Training Consolidate Tank U.S. Army Providence Equipment Tyler Workforce Center 4100 Troup Hwy, Tyler, TX 75703 Baker Ripley Christus Health TDCJ TVC Tyler Pipe Jarvis Christian University Tyler ISD Concentrix New Health Concept Inc. Hood Packaging Elwood Staffing Spherion Staffing Hall Buick and GMC Tarrant Co. Sheriff’s Office At Home Healthcare Express Employment Professionals Community Healthcore Austin Bank Cricket Wireless PI Tape Texas Brookshire’s Grocery Baylor PD Amer Technology 1:00 PM - 4:00 PM Palestine Workforce Center 500 E. Murchison St., Palestine, TX 75801 AOF Industries TDCJ Intouch Financial Group Verdant Technologies Pentecom U.S. Army Marshall Workforce Center 4300 E. End Blvd. S., Marshall, TX 75671 Blackburn Syrup TDCJ Boys and Girls Clubs Christus (Multiple Positions) DATCS LLC Mark your calendars for February 13, 2025, and take advantage of this valuable opportunity to advance your career at the Windows of Opportunity Job Fair.
    A doctor is holding a stethoscope in front of a laptop computer.
    By Texas Workforce Commission January 24, 2025
    The Texas labor market achieved a new record-high level for jobs and the civilian labor force in December. The state added 37,500 positions over the month, reaching a total of 14,318,700 nonfarm jobs. Texas added 284,200 jobs from December 2023 to December 2024, bringing the annual nonfarm growth rate to 2.0 percent, which outpaced the U.S. growth rate by 0.6 percentage points. December marks the twelfth consecutive month of growth for Texas’ civilian labor force, which achieved another new record high of 15,575,900 after adding 39,900 people over the month. Over the year, Texas’ civilian labor force has added 445,300 people. The seasonally adjusted unemployment rate in Texas registered at 4.2 percent. In our region, Longview comes in at 4.2 percent, and Tyler at 3.4 percent. “This new record-high level for jobs and the civilian labor force shows the strength of Texas’ economy,” said TWC Chairman Bryan Daniel. “TWC will continue its efforts for continued economic growth by connecting job seekers with employers and providing job training for Texans.” The Professional and Business Services industry had the largest over-the-month increase in December after adding 17,800 jobs. In addition, Trade, Transportation, and Utilities added 10,400 jobs over the month and Leisure and Hospitality added 3,700. In Texas, Financial Activities grew by 3.6 percent over the year and outperformed the industry’s growth rate nationally by 3.0 percentage points. “The Texas economy is thriving in diverse sectors," said TWC Commissioner Representing Labor, Alberto Treviño III. "I encourage job seekers to leverage TWC resources to find rewarding career opportunities that best match their skills.” The Midland Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA) had the lowest unemployment rate among Texas MSAs with a not seasonally adjusted rate of 2.4 percent in December, followed by the Amarillo MSA at 2.6 percent and the College Station-Bryan MSA at 2.7 percent. “Texas employers are creating jobs at a rate that outpaces the nation,” said TWC Commissioner Representing Employers Joe Esparza. “TWC offers a wide range of programs to meet the workforce needs of today and prepare Texans for projected job growth in the years ahead.” Employment estimates released by TWC are produced in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics. *All estimates are subject to revision. To access this and more employment data, visit TexasLMI.com. The Texas Labor Market Information Data for January is scheduled to be released on Friday, March 14, 2025, at 9:00 a.m. (CT).
    By Workforce Solutions East Texas December 20, 2024
    Texas’ civilian labor force achieved another new record high in November. In addition, Texas’ seasonally adjusted total nonfarm employment increased to 14,286,700 after 9,100 jobs were added over the month. Texas added 274,300 jobs from November 2023 to November 2024. Texas’ annual nonfarm growth rate reached 2.0 percent, outpacing the U.S. growth rate by 0.6 percentage points. In November, Texas’ seasonally adjusted civilian labor force achieved a new record high of 15,536,100 after adding 39,100 people over the month. This marks the eleventh consecutive month of growth for Texas’ civilian labor force. Over the year, Texas’ civilian labor force has added 403,200 people. The seasonally adjusted unemployment rate rose a tenth of a point to 4.2 percent over the month. “After another month of job growth, the Texas labor force participation rate has reached a 10-year high, at 64.7 percent,” said TWC Chairman Bryan Daniel. “This positive trend shows the strength of the Texas workforce, its employers, and its job seekers.” The Private Education and Health Services industry had the largest over-the-month increase in November after adding 5,900 jobs. In addition, Government added 3,500 jobs over the month and Financial Activities added 3,000. Financial Activities grew by 3.4 percent over the year in Texas and outperformed the industry’s growth rate nationally by 2.8 percentage points. “Texas continues to outpace the national employment growth rate, indicating that the Lone Star State is still the best place to live and work,” said TWC Commissioner Representing Labor Alberto Treviño III. “There are more than half a million job postings online, and TWC is dedicated to connecting Texans with new career opportunities.” The Midland Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA) had the lowest unemployment rate among Texas MSAs with a not seasonally adjusted rate of 2.8 percent in November, followed by the Amarillo MSA at 3.1 percent and the College Station-Bryan MSA at 3.2 percent. “Employers continue to choose Texas because of our dynamic business environment, talented workforce, and strong community partnerships,” said TWC Commissioner Representing Employers Joe Esparza. “TWC is here to support both individuals seeking to grow their careers and employers looking to strengthen their teams, ensuring Texas remains a leader in workforce excellence.” Employment estimates released by TWC are produced in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics. * All estimates are subject to revision. To access this and more employment data, visit TexasLMI.com . The Texas Labor Market Information Data for December is scheduled to be released on Friday, January 24, 2025, at 9:00 a.m. (CT).
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