Holmes County Department of Job and Family Services - good news on the job front
By Denice Rovira Hazlett
January 26, 2012
554
Theres good news on the job front for Holmes County in 2012, and thats a welcome message after 2010 and 2011 put Americans through the economic wringer. Even Holmes County, which has traditionally experienced low levels of unemployment, was subject to joblessness to the tune of eight percent or higher, up over previous numbers of less than four to six percent. According to Dan Jackson, director of the Holmes County Department of Job and Family Services (JFS), there was a large increase in participants in all JFS programs these past four years, particularly to those who have never needed assistance previously.
2007 was the pre-recession, said Jackson. During that year, the food assistance program saw 1,919 participants. In 2010, it rose to 3,283.
Similar increases were seen in JFS cash assistance program, up from 180 participants in 2007 to 453 in 2010.
Jackson believes those numbers will decrease in 2012.
We are seeing, as 2012 comes in, that there is good news on the economic front, said Jackson. Holmes County still has the second lowest unemployment rate in the state of Ohio, and that will continue to improve. Holmes County does well in areas where there was increasing job growth in Ohio, such as service, manufacturing, and construction.
Jackson said the reality of the oil and gas industry will also bring jobs to the area. While he admits that the published new job estimates, some projected in the hundreds of thousands, are likely high, local jobs have been already been added.
Weve helped place people in those jobs. Weve seen companies who work in some related capacity, even in transportation, find work in the oil and gas industry in the area. These operations will need local people, including those who can work on drill sites and transport product.
In addition, Jackson said there is an increasing entrepreneurial spirit in Holmes County that sets it apart. That continues to create jobs at all skill levels.
For those still dealing with the challenge of unemployment, Jackson said the resources available through JFS can help tremendously.
One such resource is the One-Stop Employment Center, designed to assist job seekers, employers and youth with a wide range of workforce-related services. Every One-Stop office offers job search assistance, employee recruitment, job training, and more.
In 2011 we had more than 6,124 visits to our One-Stop employment center, with more than 2,000 people accessing the center for job search assistance, Jackson said. Through that center, we can help people with resumes, increase their interviewing skills, and look at resources to increase their employability.
According to Jackson, Holmes Countys JFS can also help with retraining for people who qualify for a new career. Representatives from the state as well as the county are available to assist those who find themselves in the frightening position of being unemployed. These counselors can help Holmes Countys unemployed residents learn to make the best use of the One-Stop resources as well as locate all job listing resources available in Ohio.
But while things are looking up economically for the county and the nation, its going to take some time to see real change, Jackson said.
Nationally, we created 200,000 jobs last month. We need to do that for 36 months to get where we were pre-recession, Jackson said. Were going to do everything possible at the agency to make the dollars stretch.
Jackson said their primary goal is employability.
Every program we have is designed to make people self-sufficient, said Jackson. We want people to be able to support themselves and their families with a living wage.
For those needing economic or job services, visit the Holmes County Department of Job and Family Services at 85 N. Grant St., Millersburg 44654, or call 330-674-1111.
