WYRZ.org 98.9 WYRZ – The Voice of Hendricks County
Plainfield, Ind., Aug. 23, 2016 – Hendricks County residents who are long-term unemployed or underemployed are eligible to receive free job preparation, job training and paid job experience through October 2018. The program, called Employ Up, is made possible through an $8.4 million grant from the U.S. Department of Labor to invest in training for long-term unemployed and underemployed individuals.
Employ Up is operated by EmployIndy, Marion County’s workforce development board, and services are available to residents in Indianapolis and surrounding counties, including Hendricks County. Residents can apply for the program through WorkOne Plainfield or by visiting the Employ Up website at www.employup.org.
Employ Up focuses on helping residents develop skills to succeed in healthcare and tech industries, two of the fastest growing business sectors in the Indianapolis area. Technical jobs in information technology (IT) and healthcare are expected to grow by 21.5 percent over the next decade. Evidence of growth in the IT sector is shown in the recently released Central Indiana Tech Workforce Study. Central Indiana’s IT and computer-related jobs grew by 17 percent from 2009-2014, which is more than double the 8 percent growth rate for all occupations.
“Employ Up is an important program that impacts a specific segment of our population and helps prepare them with the skills needed to succeed again in the workforce,” said Marcia Williams, Employ Up program manager. “Equally important, Employ Up meets the needs for skilled talent that are especially pronounced in our tech and healthcare sectors.”
Residents eligible for Employ Up must be long-term unemployed, meaning they have been without a job for 27 weeks or longer. Residents who are underemployed also are eligible. Underemployed residents are those who are working below their skill or education level, at low-paying jobs or at part-time jobs while searching for full-time employment that meets their skill level.
As of June 2016, there were 2 million long-term unemployed individuals in the United States, accounting for 25.8 percent of the unemployed, according to the U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics. The number of individuals who work part time, either because their hours were cut or they needed income while they looked for a full time job, stood at 5.8 million. These individuals can be considered among the underemployed population.
“Long-term unemployed individuals are often overlooked and face unique challenges because they have been out of the job market for a long time,” Williams says. “And underemployed residents have often given up on finding a career that matches their skills, frustrated with the constant job search and road blocks.”
The Employ Up program offers each program participant a coach, provides an employee assistance program, a 5-week Career Prep workshop, skills and on-the-job training and job placement services.
Employ Up has partnered with local information technology, healthcare and life sciences companies to provide free training, internships and job placement opportunities. Companies that have worked with Employ Up participants include iLAB, Gear BFD, Pace Analytics, Pearl Pathways and WDD Software.
Residents can apply for Employ Up at www.employup.org.
