WorkSource could see more clients

MOSES LAKE - With the phasing out of emergency unemployment

compensation (EUC) after Thanksgiving, WorkSource Central Basin in

Moses Lake could start seeing more clients in 2011.

It's estimated about 238,000 people statewide could be

affected.

MOSES LAKE - With the phasing out of emergency unemployment compensation (EUC) after Thanksgiving, WorkSource Central Basin in Moses Lake could start seeing more clients in 2011.

It's estimated about 238,000 people statewide could be affected.

The payments are helping some people stay afloat financially as they seek work.

At this time, an increase in clients hasn't been seen locally at WorkSource, said Gary Warren, administrator of WorkSource Central Basin in Moses Lake.

Letters about the benefits were just starting to reach peoples' mailboxes last week, said Sheryl Hutchison, a spokesperson with the state Department of Employment Security.

In most cases, recipients will move into an extended benefits category, she explained.

She encourages people receiving EUC benefits to contact their WorkSource center to help with their job hunt.

The services WorkSource offers are free, she said.

Warren, in Moses Lake, said the center's services include free computer training called Microsoft e-learning and a computerized work skills program called KeyTrain.

Certifications can be earned for both programs.

They help job seekers because they can say they worked to improve themselves during their employment gap.

Microsoft e-learning can be done from any computer with an Internet connection and provides six learning plans to pick: Microsoft Office collection 2003, Microsoft Office collection 2007, Microsoft Office collection 2010, desktop collections for Office and the Windows operating system, technical training for IT pros and digital literacy for computer beginners.

To register for Microsoft e-learning, visit a WorkSource office or visit www.Go2WorkSource.com and click on the Microsoft e-learning icon.

The training is also available to businesses for their employees.

"We're really trying to reach out to employers," Warren said.

People receiving EUC benefits were sent letters directing them to attend Key Train sessions, said Madalyn Miller, of WorkSource Central Basin.

They must visit WorkSource to get signed up for the training, which covers academic skills and career skills.

Orientation sessions are held the first and third Thursday of each month at 10:15 a.m.

After signing up, they can work from home or at the library.

But accessing the training via cell phones and iPods hasn't worked well, she explained.

For more information, visit keytrain.com.

For businesses, there's free online information available at www.workforceexplorer.com, such as pay rate data, occupational projections, area demographics, unemployment statistics, salary surveys and industry trends.

Warren also shared some demographics about workers in his service area of Grant and Adams counties.

Among the 13,000 people served annually, about 26 percent have less than a high school diploma, 31 percent have a high school diploma or GED, 34 percent have some additional training and 9 percent have bachelor's degrees or associate's degrees.

Only 48 percent are collecting unemployment benefits and 58 percent found work, Warren said.

"Those are things we're pretty pleased with," Warren commented.

Almost 57 percent who walk through the door are male, 34 percent are ages 18 to 44, and 15 percent are ages 45 to 54.

There's been an increase in the past two to three weeks by employers looking for retail workers, which Warren is attributing to the upcoming holidays.

It appears workers are looking for any jobs that are out there, he said.

About 77 percent of the people they see are migrant seasonal workers.

A migrant seasonal outreach program is offered in Mattawa, where GED and English as a Second Language services are available,  said Todd Wurl, a WorkSource supervisor.

WorkSource Central Basin is located at 309 E. Fifth Ave., Moses Lake. For more information, visit www.Go2WorkSource.com.

WorkSource's office in Othello is located at 165 N. First St.