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Plant Layoffs: Workforce Assistance
As a local leader or
economic development professional it is critical to understand the
resources available to workers being affected by a plant closing or
layoff.
As a local leader or economic development professional it is
critical to understand the resources available to workers being
affected by a plant closing or layoff.
- The Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development
provides a system of employment-focused programs and services. Its
primary responsibilities include providing job services, training and
employment assistance to people looking for work. At the same time the
Department works with employers to find the necessary workers to fill
current job openings. DWD offers a dislocated worker program
that was created to provide rapid response assistance to workers,
companies, organized labor and communities affected by business
closings and mass layoffs. Rapid-response activities may include
identification of layoff or closing events, layoff aversion activities,
provision of information on available assistance to affected workers
and adjustment strategy planning.
- Wisconsin has a network of 11 Workforce Development Areas
(WDAs) that deliver key employment and training resources and services
including locally based rapid-response assistance for workers
experiencing a layoff or plant closing. Individual WDA web pages contain primary contact
information for coordinating rapid-response activities. Employment and training
services for dislocated workers are primarily delivered through locally-based Job Centers.
Job Centers provide a one-stop service for employers to meet their
workforce needs and job seekers to get the career planning, job
placement and training services they need to obtain jobs.
- Workers who have lost their jobs may want to seek a new career or enhance their existing skills. The Wisconsin Technical College System
works toward ensuring a skilled workforce for Wisconsin through
opportunities for career-related technical and adult education in 16
regionally based districts. Technical colleges are important partners
in retraining workers that have been dislocated from their current
jobs. College training contacts can be found here.
- The U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration
(ETA) has developed a description at its website of resources for
workers facing layoffs. Resources include special programs to assist
individuals who have become unemployed as a result of increased imports
(Trade Adjustment Assistance),
imports specifically from Canada and/or Mexico, or a shift in
production to Canada and or Mexico ( North America Free Trade
Agreement-Transitional Adjustment Assistance). A listing of Wisconsin
companies determined to be eligible for assistance and a listing of Wisconsin TAA Coordinators can also be found at
the ETA website.
- If an affected company is unionized, Unions
may provide information and resources to union members and leaders that
are working through potential or actual plant closings and layoffs.
- Individuals that are facing a layoff or job loss may need assistance coping wih personal finance issues. Click here for a compilation of strategies, techniques and tools.
- Dislocated workers can look for new jobs at Jobnet.
Jobnet is a searchable database containing current job opportunities
that employers have listed with the Wisconsin Job Service (Back to Layoffs Menu).
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