Center celebrates bi-weekly virtual job fairs

LAREDO, Texas – September 2020 — This year, Workforce Solutions for South Texas (WSST) has been adapting to changes to better serve its customers. From moving to a new building to converting its services to virtual settings, the staff at WSST took the challenge and the interaction has continued.

“Change is inevitable, and we have to continue growing, changing, and evolving with the times and with the needs of the customers we serve,” expressed Andrea De La Garza, Project Director at WSST. “With our new Hiring Event system, customer’s now can register and participate from the comfort and safety of their own home.”

The new building located on 1406 Jacaman Road, Suite A, is not open to the public yet, but the staff are back at the center and are available to take calls, help with resume building, connect them to training and skill-building programs, provide referrals to employment, matching them to the right jobs, and HiSet or GED preparation classes.

Virtual Job Fair

One of the newest tools presented by WSST is the bi-weekly Virtual Job Fair.

“The platform is an interactive and fun way of looking for a job,” said De La Garza. “It has chat capability, an opportunity to meet face-to-face with the employers and providers, and direct links to apply for the different positions.”

The upcoming Virtual Job Fair is scheduled for Wednesday, September 9, from 2 pm to 4 pm. Job seekers can register, using a computer or laptop, by visiting http://bit.ly/bestjobfair

Once the event opens, participants can use a mobile phone, iPad, or tablet.

“There are so many employers out there that are offering to work from home,” De La Garza explained. “What a great opportunity to be able to be home and earn a paycheck. Do not pass this opportunity.”

The employers registered to the September 9th event are All Valley Pop A Lock, Ashley HomeStore, Back Porch Mail Center, Burger King, Gateway Community Health Center, GCAM, Love’s Travel Stop, Manna Provider Services, Silverhawk Transport, Subway, and 7-Eleven/Stripes.

Community Service Agencies hosting a virtual booth that day are Child Care Services, Las Promesas de Laredo, Texas Veterans Commission, Texas Workforce Services – Vocational Rehabilitation Services, Workforce Solutions for South Texas, and WSST- Student HireAbility.

Workforce Solutions for South Texas serves the community of Jim Hogg, Webb, and Zapata Counties.

For more information, all those interested in hosting a booth or joining as a job seeker can call the WSST center at 956-516-5900, send an email to wsst@southtexasworkforce.org, or contact the staff at http://bit.ly/chatsouthtexas.

Child Care Providers are available for Essential Workers

LAREDO, Texas – April 2020 — Workforce Solutions for South Texas (WSST) is taking part in the Frontline Child Care initiative by providing essential workers with information related to child care services available in the South Texas area.

Essential workers are given priority to access child care services assistance. Essential workers include healthcare and pharmacy workers, first responders, workers in child care services that support workers in other essential functions; critical infrastructure workers in grocery, utilities, and trucking; and other identified infrastructure workers, which include critical state and local government staff; mail/delivery services; nursing homes, home health care, and other direct care providers; banks; gas stations; military; and restaurants and other food delivery.

Parents may qualify for financial assistance with child care services if they are employed as essential workers who require child care services to work, including those who are working from home, their family income is at or below 150% of the State Median Income, and the child is under age 13 (or 21 if disabled), has legal citizenship or immigration status, and resides with a family within the Workforce Solutions for South Texas service delivery area.

Please visit our website at www.southtexasworkforce.org and click on the “COVID-19 Image” then select “Child Care” option, parents will be able to access the forms to apply for child care services through Workforce Solutions for South Texas. The application form “COVID-19 Essential Worker Child Care Enrollment Form” is available in English and Spanish.

“Assistance with child care is a great opportunity to support our frontline workers in this critical time, where their duty to report to work does not sacrifice how their children will be taken care of,” Andrea De la Garza, Project Director at WSST said.

Other content available is the list of Child Care providers open in the South Texas area which includes Jim Hogg, Webb and Zapata counties. The list includes number of spaces available at each facility listed divided by age groups and contact information.

“Customers will have real-time information on open and available centers to help streamline the enrollment process, so they can report to work quicker with peace of mind that their children are being cared for,” De La Garza said.

WSST Committed to Help Texans Find Work, Training and Resources

LAREDO ⎯ Workforce Solutions for South Texas (WSST) reported a seasonally adjusted unemployment rate of 13.6 percent in April 2020. As expected, the COVID-19 pandemic took a toll on the South Texas economy. This represents an increase of 7.9 percent in comparison to March 2020.

The State’s rate rose to 12.8 percent, below the national average of 14.7 percent, according to a report by the Texas Workforce Commission (TWC).

“The COVID–19 pandemic has had a great impact on our economy. The Country, the State and our Region are facing historic levels of unemployment. The unemployment system of Texas was overwhelmed with the numbers of people trying to file for unemployment this last month,” said Rogelio Trevino, Workforce Solutions for South Executive Director. “Our workforce centers here in Laredo, Zapata and Hebbronville provided guidance and assistance to thousands of impacted workers in South Texas and helped them navigate the unemployment insurance claim process.”

The South Texas area, serving Jim Hogg, Webb, and Zapata counties, reported a Civilian Labor force of 110,079, with almost 15,000 receiving the unemployment insurance benefits. This means that 95,097 people are still employed in our area.

Essential Jobs reported an increase in the employment by industry, such as the Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (1.0 percent), Information (0.5 percent), Education and Health Services (3.8 percent), Leisure and Hospitality (0.7 percent), Other Services (2.8 percent), and Public Administration (0.8 percent).

Industry reporting losses were the following: Natural Resources and Mining, Construction, Manufacturing, Financial Activities, and Professional and Business Services.

Designated as essential businesses, these industries were needing to hire more supervisors, retail salespersons, cashiers, customer service representatives, and pharmacy technicians as well as many other occupations.

Our Workforce Solutions system will continue to work with all businesses as we begin the recovery process we will also offer services to job seekers as we start up the process of helping get South Texas Back to Work.

WSST went a 100-percent virtual at the end of March to continue assisting essential employers and job seekers, as well as the Child Care providers.

The Business Services Unit helped employers seeking applicants by creating and sharing job postings in WorkInTexas.com and through our Social Media Platforms.

Also, on May 14th, a Workforce Solutions Town Hall meeting was hosted by TWC Commissioner representing employers, Aaron Demerson, and representatives from the Governor’s office.

Employment estimates released by TWC are produced in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics. All estimates are subject to revision.