Working Hard

Let's say you're one of the 5.6 percent of us unemployed in the nation. Or perhaps you're one of the 1.9 million people of that percentage who have been out of work for six months or more--a percentage that has increased since mid-2003. Or maybe you're one of the now very typical dislocated workers here in Kansas City who has a college degree, a family, and a house--someone who had a high income three months ago, but now doesn't see an equivalent job, or any job, in sight. And maybe you want a job but you don't have the skills for the job you want. What do you do?

Perhaps the best option is to go to one of the offices operated by the Full Employment Council. There are eight of them, with several located in Kansas City, and then Gladstone, Independence, Belton, Harrisonville, and Richmond.

These offices can do a lot for you. For starters, the One-Stop Missouri Career Centers can assess interests and skill sets, provide some training, and give you job leads. This includes the use of a resource room where computers, phones, and fax machines are available for on-line job listings, career information, job referrals and postings. Many people do not realize that all those services are available no matter your former income. There are accommodations for the handicapped as well.

At the next, more intensive level, there are additional services: career planning and intensive assessment; job search assistance such as interviewing and resume writing and how to keep a job; internships and then placement assistance; assorted support services such as transportation funds, supplies, vouchers for housing; training services of all types including on the job and classroom. There is much help available--and over 4,000 people a year utilize the intensive services while around 18,000 people step through the doors of the four one stop centers in Kansas City every month seeking assistance.

These offices are funded by local, state, federal and private money. Some of that money has gone, or is going away on the three government levels. For example, the Welfare to Work program was not reauthorized under the Bush administration. "The challenge," says Clyde McQueen, President of the Full Employment Council, "is that there are more unemployed than ever who are actually looking for a job, and all initiatives are being cut, level funded or have truly minimal increases." In the long run, he points out, the city and its economy are harmed as well.

The other side of the equation is the companies. FEC works with them so that they will hire additional, well trained workers. They help develop a strategy based on the corporation's needs, plus they are often recipients of wage reimbursements or tax credits available, depending on the hiring and training process. FEC has recruited and retained qualified applicants for all kinds of companies including Harley Davidson, Sprint, CitiGroup and many others. At a recent event the FEC held with Harley Davidson, 5,000 people showed up for a job fair . . . and 40 jobs.

There have been huge changes since McQueeCn began working for the FEC in 1987, but he points to the most recent ones: the change in clientele as there are now so many dislocated workers; the mismatch between the skills the people have and the skills the companies need; the additional requirements of effective communication and teamwork versus added to the technical skills; the fact they used to be what he calls a "job shop" but now they're really in the workforce development business which has huge implications for the local economy.

He sums up both the mission and hope of the Full Employment Council by saying simply, "Our job is to provide employers with a skilled workforce and people with mean- ingful careers. The result will be satisfied customers on both sides to create a vital economic base for our community."