Director's Spotlight - August 2010
WorkReadyMissouri: Enhancing Missouri's Workforce
A column by Department Director
Larry Rebman
Losing your job can be one of the most challenging times in your life. It may feel like the rug has been pulled out from under your feet with no warning. You’re left with questions like ‘how will I pay my mortgage?’, ‘how will I feed my kids?’, and ‘how will I find a new job?’ You may struggle with feelings of anxiety, stress or inadequacy. You will wonder how the skills from your previous job can be transferred into a new career. These concerns were considered and addressed with the development of a new jobs program, as it focuses on how to pair your current skills with an employer’s needs.
In his most recent effort to put unemployed Missourians back to work in the jobs of tomorrow, Gov. Jay Nixon has launched WorkReadyMissouri.
Recipients of unemployment insurance can sign up for WorkReadyMissouri to assist them in gaining employment. While participating in the program, job seekers are matched with businesses looking for workers. They receive training (up to 24 hours per week for up to 6 weeks) while receiving unemployment benefits and a training allowance to offset some of the costs associated with training, such as transportation.
WorkReadyMissouri also benefits participating businesses. It gives them access to pre-screened qualified trainees, and costs nothing. It is ideal for companies of all sizes, as they have the chance to train and evaluate potential hires who have benefitted from pre-employment training. Businesses will be matched with qualified trainees, and will not have to pay worker’s compensation insurance or wages for the duration of the training.
The program is administered through a partnership between Missouri’s Division of Workforce Development and the Department of Labor’s Division of Employment Security. To find out more about WorkReadyMissouri, visit http://workready.mo.gov, email WorkReadyMo@ded.mo.gov, or call 1-800-592-6020. Get your foot in the door with an employer and let the WorkReadyMissouri program help you re-enter the workforce.
Director's Spotlight Archives
November 2011 - Native American Heritage Month
October 2011 - National Disability Employment Awareness
September 2011 - Labor Day: A Tribute to Missouri's Leadership in Worker Protection
April 2011 - How Housing Fraud Can Crush the American Dream
January 2011 - Worker Misclassification is Bad for Business
December 2010 - Working for the Holidays
November 2010 - Unemployment Benefits: Transitioning to Jobs
October 2010 - Protecting a Precious Industry
September 2010 - Labor Day: A Tribute to Missouri Workers
August 2010 - WorkReadyMissouri: Enhancing Missouri's Workforce
July 2010 - Workers' Compensation: Stepping Up Efforts against those Cheating the System
June 2010 - Preparing Missouri for the Evolving Economy
May 2010 - Workers' Memorial Day 2010
April 2010 - Missouri's Unemployment Update
