UNION — Even though it will no longer provide unemployment insurance services, Union County’s SC Works career center will continue providing a variety of job search services for local residents seeking employment.
The South Carolina Department of Employment and Workforce announced Monday that it would “regionalize” its unemployment insurance services as of February 19. The result of this regionalization is that unemployment insurance services will no longer be provided at 16 of the state’s 56 SC Works career centers. The Union County SC Works career center at 103 W. Main St., Union, will be one of those centers that will no longer provide unemployment insurance services. Those services will instead be provided by the Spartanburg County SC Works office at 364 S. Church St., Spartanburg.
Roy Lowe, center manager for the SC Works Union office, said Tuesday that the shifting of the unemployment insurance services currently provided by his office will reduce its staff. Despite the reductions in staff and the shifting of unemployment insurance services to Spartanburg, Lowe said the Union County SC Works career center will remain open and continue to provide job seeker services.
“We’re still going to be providing basic and intensive job search services,” Lowe said. “Those services are funded under Wagner-Peyser and the Workforce Investment Act. Wagner-Peyser provides for what is called core services, that is providing the means by which a person can conduct a self-directed job search, such as Internet access, job postings, resume assistance, and partner referrals.
“WIA provides the same type service to a greater degree and includes the core services and builds on them,” he said. “WIA services are for those who need additional assistance in finding employment. Those requesting WIA services are evaluated based on their needs. Expanded services include assignment to a case manager, individual needs assessment, the development of an individual employment plan to include possible training based upon the applicant’s needs.”
In addition to continuing to serve the needs of those seeking employment, Lowe said the center will also continue to serve the needs of employers seeking employees.
“Our services to employers will also continue,” Lowe said. “Katherine Pendergrass has just joined our team as business services consultant. She’ll be contacting businesses and providing our services to them.”
Lowe pointed out that the online services offered by SC Works brings those looking for jobs together with the businesses that have them.
“They are using the SC Works online services which spiders the web for job openings,” Lowe said. “By entering their information into our system they can open the doors for employers to find them. It is much like a job bank with added benefits. They can make their resumes viewable to employers.
“They can also identify their skill sets in the system,” he said. “Employers looking for those skill sets can search the database and find them. We’ve had employers do a search of the system and contact people who meet their employment needs.”
For more information about Union County SC Works career center and the services it provides call 864-427-8864.
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