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Skills for America’s Future – An Unemployment Extension Alternative?

Jobs are the critical focus in America’s economy right now. With the official unemployment rate at 9%, and the unofficial rate nearing 20%, getting Americans back to work is finally receiving some attention in Congress.

While unemployment extensions are important survival mechanism for millions of Americans, ultimately jobs will be the solution to the unemployment situation in this country.

 

Skills for America’s Future

Last year, President Obama announced the Skills for America’s Future Program. This program partners community college students with leading companies to to develop industry knowledge, training programs, and job placements.

The President announced an expansion of the program in a speech earlier this month, emphasizing the need for jobs.

Skills for America’s Future states that its goal is to “help provide 500,000 community college students with industry-recognized credentials that will help them get secure jobs in the manufacturing sector”.

 

Manufacturing Jobs?

Once a thriving part of our economy, the manufacturing job sector has shrunk as a result of outsourcing and a shift to a service based economy. Politicians have increasingly been talking about ways to revitalize the manufacturing sector, which currently employs over 11 million Americans.

The news often reports that there are jobs available, but not enough people with the right skills to fill these job openings. Skills for America’s Future aims to help close that gap — with a focus on training people for the “high-skills” jobs that are in demand.

 

How Does This Program Help You?

For students who are in the process of completing their degrees, Skills for America’s Future will help with appropriate training in science, technology, engineering and math, as well as with job placement.

Note: Americans of any age can take advantage of these educational and training programs, and many times classes are available online. If you are currently receiving unemployment insurance (whether regular benefits or unemployment extensions), now may be the time to find an opportunity to enhance your skills.

 

 

Other Recent Updates

How Many Weeks of Benefits?

Extension Update – May 2011

 

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Category: Career, News, Unemployment Extension

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How Many Weeks of Unemployment Benefits?

While unemployment is an important national issue, the amount of benefits you can receive really depends on your state.

With the current tiers of extensions, 60 weeks is the minimum total number of weeks you can collect, while nearly half of all states grant up to 99 weeks of total benefits.

The graph below (compiled by the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities) outlines the number of weeks available across the country. The information is current as of June 5th, 2011.

 

 

Note: The total number of weeks includes both EUC and EB. In Missouri, 99 weeks are available if you initially filed prior to April 13, 2011. For those who filed after this date, 76 weeks are available.

Future Extensions

As the law currently stands, unemployment extensions are available for Americans filing for benefits through the end of 2011. Last week, President Obama mentioned in a press conference that he may consider a further extension into 2012. This will require approval from Congress, and there should be news on this in coming weeks.

 

 

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Tags: , , | Category: News, Unemployment, Unemployment Extension

Job Creation: What is Washington Doing?

Job Creation: What is Washington Doing?

Washington is in the process of taking steps to help encourage job growth throughout the country. This week, we highlight the debate taking place over the Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA) program.

 

What is Trade Adjustment Assistance?

According to the Deparment of Labor, the Trade Adjustment Assitance program “was created to provide benefits and services to workers who become unemployed due the impact of international trade.”

Essentially, if your job was impacted because of foreign imports or because of a shift in production outside of the United States, Trade Adjustment Assistance provides additional benefits, specifically:

  • additional cash payments (up to 156 weeks) if you are enrolled in training (for new or additional skills)
  • re-employment assistance
  • job search allowances
  • relocation allowances

The benefits available under TAA were expanded greatly under the Recovery Act in 2009. In February of this year, however, the expansions to Trade Adjustment Assistance program expired.

 

What is the Current Debate?

Democrats want to reinstate the provisions of the TAA that were put in place as of 2009.

Republicans are concerned about the cost of the program, which would be approximately $7.2 billion over 10 years, and would be funded by the government taking on more debt.

President Obama is looking to Congress to renew the Trade Adjustment Assistance program. At the same time, free-trade agreements with South Korea, Colombia, and Panama are also being discussed.

Both Republicans and Democrats support the free trade agreements. The President is considering passing the free-trade agreements only if Congress agrees to bring back the TAA at 2009 levels.

 

What Does This Mean for You?

If Trade Adjustment Assistance is included with the free trade deals …

  • You may be able to receive additional benefits and training — if your previous job was impacted by a shift in production to another country that has a free trade agreement with the U.S. Alternatively, you may also be eligible if your job was directly impacted by imports.
  • We will provide more details as these discussions unfold.

 

More Programs

In the coming weeks, we will highlight additional programs that Washington is undertaking to help create job growth.

Also, we continue to follow all legislation related to unemployment benefits and extensions, and will keep you informed as soon as new information becomes available.

 

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