Latest news with #WorkSource
Yahoo
19-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Employers ready to recruit at WorkSource Hiring Event
May 19—MOSES LAKE — Folks who are looking for work will stand a good chance of finding it May 30 at WorkSource's Spring Hiring Event. "In the past, we've had an average of 400 people come through for this event, and a lot of them make great connections with the employers," said Employment Security Department Business Services/Employment Development Specialist Crysie Kluth. There were 25 employers slated Wednesday to have a presence inside the hiring event, Kluth said, and a few more are expected to sign on. Outside the building will be a variety of community partners, including military recruiters, Grant County, the Department of Social and Health Services, Job Corps and more. Job seekers are encouraged to bring resumes with them, Kluth said, and if they need help polishing them up, well, nobody knows their way around a resume like the staff at WorkSource. There will be computers on hand, Kluth said, to print out resumes and so prospective employees can apply for jobs electronically before actually speaking with the company recruiters. "They're welcome to come in and sit at the computers and start applying for these employers," she said. "We will have a list of employers available so that people can go and look at the positions that they're hiring for and apply. (Then) they can come in and present their resume and talk to the employer to let the employer know that 'I've applied. I'm interested. What are the steps from here?'" Not all employers will accept resumes in person, Kluth added, so it's a good idea to come prepared to apply by either method. Job seekers should dress to impress, Kluth said. Also, those who have children under 16 should find someone to watch them for a couple of hours, just as if they were going to a job interview. One way in which the WorkSource event differs from some other job fairs is that attendees are asked to create a SecureAccess Washington account at either beforehand or at the event on the computers provided. "It takes maybe five or 10 minutes of your time," Kluth said. Just ... fill in the information with your name, your address, your phone number, fill it out the best that you can and your account will be set up, and you'll be ready to go." The first 60 job seekers who come to the event will receive a ticket for either free tacos from Mazatlan Taqueria or a free drink from Favored Farmhouse Coffee. Applicants can come early and pre-register, Kluth said, and they'll be given a ticket. That alleviates crowding when the event starts at 10 a.m., she explained. Anyone who would like more information is invited to contact Kluth at 509-766-4149 or WorkSource Spring Hiring Event May 30, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. WorkSource Central Basin 309 E. Fifth Ave., Moses Lake Employers: Columbia Basin Hospital Family Medicine The Gorge Amphitheatre Agri-Stor Company Northwest Grant County Sheriff's Office Sila Nanotechnologies International Paper Quincy Columbia Basin Irrigation District Impact Staffing Solutions Moses Lake Industries City of Moses Lake Group14 Technologies Okanagan Specialty Fruits Quincy Foods Express Employment Professionals McCain Foods Inc CBHA Moses Lake School District Transportation Genie — Terex Samaritan Healthcare JR Simplot Agri Beef FedEx Walmart — Moses Lake & Ephrata Moses Lake Community Health Center BBSI
Yahoo
01-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Unemployment in WA, nation rises
Apr. 1—OLYMPIA — In February 2025, the labor market in Washington state revealed a discouraging trend, as the state experienced a decline in nonfarm employment paired with a slow rise in the unemployment rate, according to a report from the Washington State Employment Security Department. According to the report, preliminary estimates from the Bureau of Labor Statistics indicate that nonfarm payrolls fell by 7,200 jobs during that month. There were also around 6,900 jobs lost in the private sector. Meanwhile, the public sector lost around 300 jobs. The full report can be found at Washington added approximately 39,000 jobs between February 2024 and February 2025, with the private sector responsible for 31,800 of those gains, according to the report. The public sector also contributed positively, adding 7,200 jobs, mainly in local government. WorkSource supervisor Stacey Gurley-Womack, from the agency's Moses Lake office, wants to remind people that their office is available for those searching for a job, recently laid off, or looking to find a different career or continue with upper education. "We're a one-stop shop where customers can come in," Gurley-Womack said. "We can help meet them where they're at, so they come into WorkSource for a different reason. Let's say they are looking for employment. We can let them know about different resources, different partners and what they offer. WorkSource is like a shopping mall and inside are different department stores. We all offer different services ... Our goal is to help people gain skills, whether that's retraining, whether that's resume development, digital literacy, improving their soft skills, their interviewing skills, how to fill out an application." The unemployment rate in Washington rose slightly from 4.3% in January 2025 to 4.4% in February, mirroring the figure from one year prior. Washington-wide, the state has maintained an unemployment level higher than the national average of 4.1%, which also saw an increase from the previous month. A closer examination of the employment changes by industry in the Evergreen State reveals a general decline, particularly in the construction and leisure and hospitality sectors. There were significant job losses in construction, which saw a decrease of 7,200 jobs, and leisure and hospitality, which lost around 5,200 positions. In contrast, sectors like transportation, warehousing, utilities, and retail trade experienced modest job gains, each adding about 1,900 jobs. On a national scale, the U.S. labor market continues to exhibit resilience amidst ongoing uncertainties. While the unemployment rate has crept upwards, the nation has seen sustained job growth over the last year. As of February 2025, the number of employed individuals has steadily increased. For those needing assistance with unemployment in Grant and Adams counties, WorkSource has a plethora of resources to assist people looking for jobs, according to Gurley-Womack. There are training services, paid job training and services for veterans, those on cash benefits from the state, and those with disabilities. There are also people there to help with resumes, training for technical careers and more. Most of these services are offered at zero cost. "Their success is our success," Gurley-Womack said. "The road to success isn't always straightforward. Sometimes ,they need to take two steps back to take one step forward. We are here to help people navigate those challenges." WorkSource Central Basin 309 E. Fifth Ave., Ste. B, Moses Lake 509-766-2559 Monday-Friday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Daily orientations at 10 a.m. WorkSource events: April 4: Skills and Abilities Workshop to help people identify, demonstrate and package their skills and personal qualities in a way that will be meaningful to employers. The workshop is free and goes from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. online at April 5: Applications, Resumes and Cover Letters Workshop, which will teach people to format information to display their strengths to attract more employers. The workshop is free and goes from 9 a.m. to noon online at April 6: Interviewing workshop to teach people how to answer job interview questions with more confidence. The workshop is free from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. online at April 11: Work for Washington Workshop teaches people how to search and find jobs. The workshop is free from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. online at April 12: Skills and Abilities Workshop to help people identify, demonstrate and package their skills and personal qualities in a way that will be meaningful to employers. The workshop is free and goes from 9 a.m. to noon online at April 13: Applications, Resumes and Cover Letters Workshop, which will teach people to format information to display their strengths to attract more employers. The workshop is free and goes from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. online at April 14: Personal Strength Builders Workshop teaches people what they do best and how they can improve. The workshop is free from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. in person at WorkSource. April 17: Annual Job and Career Fair at Big Bend Community College. The event starts at 10 a.m. and goes on until 2 p.m. at 7611 Bolling St. Northeast in Moses Lake. Bring resumes, dress professionally and find your next job. A full preview of this event can be found here: April 21: Community Engagement Workshop to learn about their community and how people can help. The workshop is free from 9 a.m. to noon in person at WorkSource. April 28: Work Concepts 2 to learn skills to find and excel in career and life. The workshop is free from 9 a.m. to noon in-person at WorkSource.
Yahoo
31-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Working connections
Mar. 31—MOSES LAKE — Big Bend Community College will play matchmaker between businesses and the people they're looking for at the BBCC Job Fair on April 17. This is the 32nd year Big Bend has held the fair, said coordinator Michelle Arceo. Last year it attracted about 1,000 job seekers, she said. The fair will include Big Bend students, but anyone who's interested in starting or furthering a career is invited. There's no charge to attend. "(Attendees) can expect about 60 employers, and we'll have some Big Bend Community College programs there as well," Arceo said. In addition, there will be a number of BBCC's partners in the event, agencies that help people in need of jobs with training and placement. "We have a presence every year to recruit customers, sometimes to recruit staff," said Emily Anderson, training manager for SkillSource, one of the partners. "It's truly a great event every year." Employers run the gamut: government agencies, health care organizations, manufacturing companies among others. Attendees can check out one table after another, dropping off resumes and making the all-important first contact with a potential boss, and also finding out if a career with one employer or another is what they've been looking for. Partners like SkillSource, WorkSource and Job Corps will offer help for those whose skills aren't quite where they need to be yet. Job seekers are encouraged to bring lots of copies of their resume and be prepared to talk with potential employers, Arceo said. "Make sure you come prepared," Anderson said. "It's best to leave kids at home and come in with professional dress and a readiness to connect with businesses. If folks are unsure or feeling a little shy ahead of time and would like some tips or tricks, some preparation or some resume writing assistance they can come down here to our WorkSource center." The WorkSource office is located at 309 E Fifth Ave., Ste. B in Moses Lake, and is open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. In addition to the job fair, the Department of Social and Health Services will have a bus on campus to help anyone who needs assistance filling out forms and applying for cash or medical assistance. "I really encourage everyone to come (to the job fair)," Anderson said. "You never know what connection you might make that can benefit you in the future. Even if you're just there to explore and network a little bit, it is well worth your time to come." More information, including a list of exhibitors and tips for making the job search more effective, can be found at Big Bend Community College Job Fair 10 a.m.-2 p.m. April 17 Masto Conference Center, 7611 Bolling St. NE, Moses Lake
Forbes
20-03-2025
- Business
- Forbes
Unemployment Benefits Can Raise Tax Questions—And Attract Scammers
Job seekers look over job opening fliers at the WorkSource exhibit, a collaborative effort by governmental agencies to offer jobs and job training resources in Pasadena, California. (Photo by) Recent reductions in the federal workforce combined with general unease about the economy in the private sector means that some Americans are experiencing job losses. If you lose your job for reasons other than cause, you may be eligible to collect unemployment benefits. How much you can collect depends on where you live—there is no federal unemployment program. Each state manages its own unemployment insurance program and pays its own benefits. (If you live in a state different from where you worked, file for unemployment in the state where you worked.) To qualify for benefits, many states require that you have worked consistently and earned at least a certain amount within the last one to two years. You may also have to demonstrate that, after your job loss, you began looking for a new job. The amount you can receive varies by state but typically totals about half of your prior income. How long you can receive benefits also varies by state—most settle around 26 weeks, though in some states, like Florida and Alabama, it's much less. After a job loss, the last thing you want to think about is taxes, but getting the tax consequences right is crucial—especially when money is tight. Here are some tax-related tips to help you sort it out: Scammers are also taking advantage of unemployment benefits. If you applied for unemployment benefits but haven't yet received them, you may be the victim of a scam. In one version of the scam, applicants are tricked into filling out an application on a fraudulent website and not from their state unemployment office—always check the validity of a website before you enter information (most legitimate government websites end in .gov, not .com). When in doubt, navigate directly to the website using an address rather than clicking through from another site. If you were approved for unemployment insurance payments but have not received them, they may have been misdirected to another address. And, if the unemployment office rejected your application for benefits because they already received a claim under your name, a scammer may have filed for benefits using your name and personal information. Contact your state unemployment insurance program if you believe that you might be a victim. Over the last few years, taxpayers have reported receipt of unemployment-related tax forms or other notices when they did not apply for unemployment benefits. If you've received a notice from your state unemployment office or Form 1099-G that shows you received unemployment benefit payments you never received, you may be the victim of a scam—someone may have used your name and personal information to apply for benefits. If you receive a Form 1099-G you believe is fraudulent, you should report it to your state's official unemployment benefits agency and request a corrected Form 1099-G. Some states, like my state of Pennsylvania, have specific directions on their websites for reporting fraud. Don't simply ignore it—remember that unemployment compensation is taxable. However, the IRS advises that when you file your taxes, you should only include income you received, even if you have not yet received a corrected 1099-G—the processing of your tax return should not be delayed while your report of unemployment identity theft is under investigation. If you receive a Form 1099-G that you believe is fraudulent, you do not need to file Form 14039, Identity Theft Affidavit, with the IRS. Form 14039 should only be filed if your e-filed tax return is rejected because a duplicate return has been filed with your Social Security number (or if the IRS tells you to file the form). If you are the victim of unemployment fraud, you should consider opting into the IRS Identity Protection PIN program. An IP PIN is a six-digit number that helps prevent thieves from filing federal tax returns in the names of identity theft victims. The IP PIN is a voluntary program open to any taxpayer who can verify their identity. You can learn more about identity theft and unemployment benefits from the IRS here. If all of this seems overwhelming, remember that help is available. Don't be afraid to ask questions about benefits, deductions, and credits that can help reduce your tax burden at tax time—or help you navigate potential fraud. Ask your tax professional for help, or contact the IRS for assistance.
Yahoo
21-02-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
SkillSource offers skills development, employment aid
Feb. 21—MOSES LAKE — Finding a job can be tricky. Job seekers may not have the right skills, or may need help polishing up their qualifications. They might need help making the right connections or face other challenges. Emily Anderson, career and training manager for SkillSource in Moses Lake, said its job is helping people find not only new jobs, but new careers. "We provide a variety of different career and retraining services," Anderson said, with the emphasis on career. "We're really in the business of building careers," she said. "We want these to be well paying, high-demand jobs that will lead to good careers." It's one of several agencies providing services in the SkillSource building at 309 E. Fifth Ave., Moses Lake. SkillSource also has an office providing some services in Othello, Anderson said. People who want to know what the agency does and what services are available can stop by the Moses Lake office at 10 a.m. every weekday for an orientation, she said. Its mission is to help get people ready to go to work, she said, and its services are available to people 16 years of age and older. "We've had customers in their 80s," she said. The job market is always changing as some businesses come and others go. Moses Lake recently experienced the closure of an international manufacturer and two national retail stores. In two of those cases SkillsSource sponsored what's called a "rapid response event," with information on unemployment benefits, retraining options, skills workshops, WorkSource services and programs for dislocated workers. "Any time we hear of a (business) closing we try and reach out and offer whatever resources are available," she said. Education and retraining opportunities are available to employees of any business that's closing, she said, no matter how big or small. "We would do a response for one person," she said. Job skills change too, and to bring people up to date SkillSource offers workforce training options, beginning with the most basic skills and going from there. The work experience program can pay wages for new employees who are entering the job market for the first time or returning after being out for a while, Anderson said. Participants can learn the employment basics, like being on time and interacting with customers, as well as specific skills. People with more experience may be able to qualify for SkillSource on-the-job training. Anderson said the OJT program can reimburse a portion of employee wages while they're in the hiring process or going through retraining. "Earn while they learn," Anderson said. The agency provides classes for people who need the equivalent of a high school diploma. In Othello the Open Doors program offers qualifying young people the opportunity to earn credits they need to complete a diploma. Students can get help with college and workforce training scholarships; short term assistance is available for classes like CDL training. There are also opportunities for longer term assistance — Anderson said the program has helped a lot of students in the Big Bend Community College nursing program. "Basically, up to two years of training," she said. SkillSource also works to ensure employers know what's available. "We talk to (employers)," she said. "We do a lot of outreach with our business community." Among other things, that means SkillSource will have a booth at the Moses Lake Chamber of Commerce Business Expo in March. SkillSource representatives have met with business owners and community members at events like the Coffee and Conversation sponsored by the Downtown Moses Lake Association. The agency also is working with the Othello Chamber of Commerce "to see what is needed," Anderson said. Its services are available in English and Spanish. "If an employer has a question or a need, we'll happily work with them," Anderson said. Most of its services are funded through a combination of state and federal grants, she said. "For most people and most businesses, there is no charge or a very low charge. These are tax dollars coming back to the community," she said.
