In the current recession more Americans are out of work than we’ve seen in over 70 years. This is why we are seeing all sorts of Employment Support Programs springing up throughout the states to give people help and guidance in finding jobs and getting back to work. These programs cover a wide variety of job fields and necessities. Of particular interest is the support available to workers in the automotive industry, workers in ‘green jobs’, and disabled beneficiaries considering returning to the workforce.
The American Automotive Industry has undoubtedly been hit the hardest in this recession. Car companies such as Ford, Chrysler and GM have laid off thousands of workers many of which have not been able to find work since. To lend a helping hand to these workers and to stimulate the US economy The United States Department of Labor has developed an employment support program tailored to this industry called Recovery for Auto Communities. This program has electronic and telephone tools that can assist automotive workers in their efforts to find jobs, training, education, and support services in their communities. These services provide additional resources available to workforce professionals and also provide intermediaries who can assist autoworkers with their transition.
Then there is help for individuals in green careers. The green jobs initiative is an employment support program that will support on-the-ground apprenticeship and job training programs to meet growing demand for green construction professionals skilled in energy efficiency and renewable energy installations. Through this employment support program 3 million new green jobs are expected to be created in a variety of industries as companies retool and retrain workers to produce clean energy and energy efficient components.
And two additional employment support programs that are geared to help disabled persons reintegrate into the work force are the Protection and Advocacy for Beneficiaries of Social Security (PABSS) program, and the Work Incentives Planning and Assistance (WIPA) program, which have recently been amended according to new legislation called the Ticket to Work and Work Incentives Improvement Act.
Both of these employment support programs are essentially ‘work incentives’ to encourage disabled beneficiaries to test their ability to work without risking losing their benefits. Once in an established job these individuals are given time to see if the job is a fit and transition slowly off their benefits instead of having the benefits revoked and finding that they can’t actually perform their new job long term. By working with these programs beneficiaries will be better equipped to make decisions about going back to work and more importantly the type of work they can sustain.
Practically all Americans can benefit from the many and varied employment support programs. These career aids, provide opportunity for better paying jobs, sustainable careers, and motivation while not having to pay a dime. Take your future seriously and you will see your employment situation turned around.
