DWS News

Utah DWS Back-to-Work Initiatives

by Kim Auberger, DWS Manager

DWS is trying to get people back to work, and here are two ways we’re doing that.

Employer Hiring Incentive

The Department of Workforce Service (DWS) is developing an initiative to provide Utah employers with an opportunity to re-employ approximately 3,700 Utah workers. DWS is targeting two groups of unemployed job seekers: 2,500 Unemployment Insurance (UI) claimants making no more than $15 per hour in their last job, who are currently receiving UI benefits, and 700 unemployed 18-to-24 year-olds. A wage subsidy of up to $2,000 per participant, for a maximum of three months will be provided to the employer for each employee hired. This provides us with a unique opportunity to leverage our resources, stimulate job growth, and help ensure the UI trust fund remains solvent.

American Reinvestment and Recovery Act (ARRA) TANF funds will be the primary funding source for this program. Participating employers may be able to combine this program with the recently enacted federal “Hiring Incentives to Restore Employment” (HIRE) act that provides a temporary waiver of the employer’s 6.2% share of Social Security taxes for each newly hired worker between February 3rd and December 31st of 2010; and up to a $1,000 general business tax credit for each worker retained for one year.

Re-employment and Eligibility Assessment (REA) Grant

The Department of Workforce Services was awarded a $1.3 million federal grant from the U.S. Department of Labor on April 15, 2010, to assist unattached Unemployment Insurance (UI) claimants most likely to exhaust their UI benefits. The five basic components included are:

1) An online UI eligibility review and orientation of services self-assessment
2) One-on-one job-search assistance from trained re-employment counselors
3) Receipt of current labor market and career information
4) Assistance in developing an employment plan, including workshops and/or training, and
5) Integration of re-employment services with the UI system, as a condition of UI eligibility.

To apply for these programs, please see your nearest DWS Employment Center: http://jobs.utah.gov/regions/ec.html.