CHARLESTON, W.Va. – The American Institute for Full Employment awarded the 2009 Full Employment Performance Award to WorkForce West Virginia for its re-employment programs.
Re-employment services help individuals receiving unemployment compensation return to work as early as possible, receive a high wage and work with them to retain their new employment opportunity.
“National recognition for our commitment in placing the state’s residents back into the work force is a great accomplishment for West Virginia,” said Gov. Joe Manchin. “Re-employment services not only help our workers, it also provide relief for the state’s employers who contribute to the funding of unemployment benefits.”
The award noted that WorkForce West Virginia is effectively implementing comprehensive claimant re-employment services for early assessment of specific service needs, including a robust eligibility review program (ERP) that serves more than 20 percent of claimants; job service registration requirements that expose claimants to re-employment services early in the claim; and a nationally recognized claimant-profiling model that identifies potential “exhaustees” with early services.
Re-employment services assist clients in career guidance, job search activities, employment referrals, WorkKeys® assessments, fulfilling employer job searches and recommendations for Workforce Investment Act training services.
“This award is a testament to the hard work of our dedicated staff and to the outstanding work ethic of our work force,” said Russell L. Fry, acting executive director of WorkForce West Virginia. “The sooner our workers return to employment, the quicker our state can recover and keep moving forward.”
WorkForce West Virginia is a network of work force development services designed to provide West Virginia's citizens and employers the opportunity to succeed in today’s competitive global economy. For more information, visit www.workforcewv.org or call toll free 1-800-252-JOBS (5627).