As federal unemployment benefits end, focus turns to reemployment and training programs
Open job postings across state top 120,000
INDIANAPOLIS (June 18, 2021) – Whether you are looking to re-enter the job market, learn about jobs that are in demand or build a new career pathway, Workone has the resources to help.
If you are looking for a job or to build a career, here are some of the things that Workone can do for you: resume writing; interviewing prep; connecting you to a job; career advising; and job training.
As of June 1, individuals receiving UI benefits once again are required to search for work. The requirement was suspended during the COVID-19 pandemic but has been reinstituted.
Work-search activities include applying for a job, attending a job fair, participating in a Workone orientation or completing an online workshop. Those who ignore the work-search requirement will risk losing their unemployment benefits.
The DWD will also focus on the Reemployment Services and Eligibility Assessment (RESEA) initiative, which requires UI claimants to visit a Workone center after receiving benefits for four weeks to log work-search activities and participate in ongoing reemployment services.
“The federal RESEA program educates participants and connects them to available reemployment services through the state’s workforce system and community partners,” DWD Commissioner Fred Payne said. “It’s a very valuable program that especially helps lower-income and/or lower-skilled workers secure suitable reemployment.”
More information can be found at: www.in.gov/dwd/indiana-unemployment/individuals/work-search/.
The most recent data shows Indiana employers have posted more than 120,000 job openings around the state as the economy continues to improve. Indiana’s unemployment rate has fallen from 16.9% in April 2020, shortly after the pandemic struck, to 3.9% in April 2021, the most recent month in which data is available.
In addition, initial unemployment insurance filings have fallen from a weekly high of nearly 140,000 in late March 2020 to 5,213 the week ending June 5, 2021. Since March 2020, DWD has paid nearly 870,000 individuals a total of $8.6 billion ($6.9 billion federal; $1.7 billion state) in unemployment benefits.
Below are state resources to help Hoosiers gain more skills and find the career of their choice.
Workforce Ready Grant: Pays the tuition and fees for eligible high-value certificate programs at Ivy Tech Community College, Vincennes University, Indiana Institute of Technology, or other approved providers. www.in.gov/che/state-financial-aid/state-financialaid-by-program/workforceready-grant/ Indiana Career Connect: Provides workforce services and tools to help employers connect with job-ready talent. www.indianacareerconnect.com
Hoosier Talent Network: Job-matching and career-planning site powered by artificial intelligence to help Hoosiers find the right job match and uncover new training opportunities. www. hoosiertalentnetwork.com
180 Skills: Delivers high-quality, online, technical, employability, and compliance manufacturing skills training aligned with the needs of employers. www.180skills.com
Indemand Jobs: Focuses on high-demand, high-wage jobs for today and tomorrow. The demand indicator uses a methodology that ranks all Indiana jobs based on future growth and wages. www.dwd.in.gov/indemandjobs
Hoosiers by the Numbers: Premier source for labor market information for Indiana. www.hoosierdata.in.gov/