Mike Cohen / CC
OSHKOSH, WI (WTAQ) – A majority of Wisconsin’s Job Centers remain closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but Workforce Development leaders are implementing a new way for the high number of unemployed people to find open jobs.
“Because of the COVID situation and most of the job centers still remaining closed, we knew we had to do something to serve these individuals who are currently not working,” says Fox Valley Workforce Development Board CEO Anthony Snyder.
Drive-thru job fairs will be held across the state on Wednesday. That includes an event in the Oshkosh Chamber of Commerce parking lot from 12:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.
The Chamber of Commerce is located at 120 Jackson Street. Snyder recommends entering the parking lot by driving south on Division Street, turning right into the lot, and then turning right onto Jackson Street to leave. Staffers in yellow vests will help direct drivers through the lot.
“We’ve collected flyers from employers in our region and individuals will just cruise through in their car, we’ll hand them a packet, and then they go on their merry way. Then they can actually look into the items that are in the packet and apply for jobs directly…We have banks, manufacturers, healthcare, grocery stores, retail stores – we have a wide variety of individual companies that are hiring both low skilled, entry-level, and higher skilled,” Snyder tells WTAQ News, “It’s a great, flexible, and safe way to grab a packet of open jobs in our region and, in fact, all regions of the state, and we can help them find a job.”
There will be 300 packets available on a first come, first served basis for the Fox Valley job fair. About 70 companies from Calumet to Fond du Lac County have provided flyers to include in those packets. Other counties included are Green Lake, Waupaca, Waushara, and Winnebago.
Staff that will be handing out packets will be wearing masks and protecting themselves from any potential spread of COVID-19. Snyder says the goal is to make people driving through feel safe as well.
It may be hard to know exactly how many people in the Fox Valley area are unemployed due to the combination of people who were furloughed and laid off, as both had to file for unemployment insurance. However, the Department of Workforce Development does have a few estimates on the impact of the pandemic and consequential shutdown.
“About 40-percent of the individuals who are filing for unemployment would not be going back there last employer and doing our math that’s about 8,000 people in our six county area who have lost their jobs permanently,” Snyder says.
Individuals who are permanently unemployed and unable to attend the job fair are invited to use the data collection form on the job center website to find assistance with their job search at foxvalleyjobcenters.com. People can also reach staff at the Fond du Lac Job Center at (920) 929-3900 or the Fox Cities Job Center in Menasha at (920) 997-3272.
