Mobile Works Job Target Zeros In On Laid-Off Workers
Thursday, Dec 16th, 2004Mobile Works Announces Marketing Campaign to Reach Laid-Off Workers Laid-Off Workers Are Immediately Eligible for Mobile Works Programs
MOBILE, Alabama - December 16, 2004 - Mobile Works Inc. kicked off a new marketing/media campaign recently aimed at reaching laid-off workers in Mobile Alabama. The campaign is called "Mobile Works Job Target" and began running television and radio spots today on local stations to attract these laid off workers to its paid-on-the job training and career advancement scholarship programs.
Laid-off workers are those workers who have ever been laid off or will be laid off through no fault of their own, won't be recalled to work and who have not yet found a job at their former salary level. Spouses of laid-off workers are those who depended primarily upon their spouse's income for their support and are also considered to be a laid-off worker.
Most laid-off workers who meet these requirements are eligible for assistance through Mobile Works programs, but must visit Mobile Works at the Alabama Career Center to find out.
The plight of the laid-off worker is that they often cannot do the same work they did prior to being laid off. They also often cannot replace their former salary unless they participate in on-the-job career training or go back to school to receive education or training for a new career. And spouses of laid off workers often have no marketable skills, recent training or education to help them find a job, which can leave the family of a laid-off worker without any income at all.
Laid-off workers are immediately eligible for the two major programs that Mobile Works has for jobseekers in need of a new career. First, jobseekers must register at the Alabama Career Center for employment services. If they are unable to find a job and need further training, they can apply for the Mobile Works programs, including:
Individual Training Accounts are Career Advancement Scholarships that allow eligible candidates to attend school for up to two years. Candidates must meet income requirements or be a laid-off worker in need of retraining. Since the program began in 2000, over 3,000 jobseekers have received scholarships worth nearly $5.6 million.
On-the-Job-Training allows jobseekers to be paid while training in a new career. Mobile Works develops a contract with a for-profit employer where Mobile Works agrees to reimburse the employer up to 50% of the cost to train a new hire for up to six months. The employer agrees to hire trainees for permanent full-time positions. Over 215 people have been trained since 2000, with over 48 local businesses receiving total trainee wage reimbursements worth over $609,000.
Laid-off workers, as well as other jobseekers, can apply for these programs at the Alabama Career Center. Other types of assistance jobseekers can find at the Alabama Career Center include outreach, assessment, career planning and counseling, job search assistance, adult education, literacy classes, job readiness training, pre-employment and vocational services, case management and follow up services.
"Mobile Works is committed to getting helping workers who have been laid off transition as quickly as possible," said Sydney G. Raine, President. "We are providing these funds to help workers access training and transitional assistance so they can find new job opportunities." Laid-off workers should visit the Alabama Career Center or call 251-432-4562 (4JOB) for more information.
Mobile Works Inc., a local partnership of business, education, labor and community leaders, provides businesses with training, leadership, labor market information and employment programs designed to stimulate local business by meeting the needs of Mobile area businesses while increasing the available labor pool of skilled jobseekers in the Mobile area. Since its inception in 2000, the group has invested more than $19 million overall to support Mobile area job and educational programs, not including the $4.9 million budgeted for the 2004-2005 fiscal year.
###
Contact:
Gia Dinges
Director of Marketing
251-432-0909 phone
[email protected] email
[ Back to Mobile Works News ]