This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2011, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
It is hard to turn on the television, open a newspaper or browse the Internet without finding a story about "job creation." How many jobs will the president's jobs bill create? How many could be created with varying congressional proposals?
In Utah, we are taking a different approach. Gov. Gary Herbert has announced his plan for "100,000 jobs in 1,000 days." He did not say that he or state government would create the jobs — only that we would all work together to build a positive environment for job growth. That is precisely our focus at the state Department of Workforce Services.
The latest job numbers show that Utah's economy is steadily improving and growing at a higher rate than the national average. While that's very encouraging news, there are still many job seekers out there looking for work. Right now, there are more than 20,000 jobs listed on the DWS website, jobs.utah.gov. These are real jobs that run the gamut of occupations and wages. Again, good news, but there is also the reality that, for every job listed, there may be scores of applicants and job competition is fierce. Our workforce development specialists are engaged with employers around the state who have made clear their need for a qualified and diverse pool of candidates.
At DWS, among the many employment-related services we provide is a one-stop-shop, comprehensive toolkit for jobseekers at jobs.utah.gov. Once there, a job seeker from any corner of the state can search any job title, skill or key word in every imaginable career category. They will also find direct links to Utah employer websites and state and national job banks. In addition to these search features, job seekers can sign up to receive real time Twitter updates as new jobs are added to a particular career or occupation.
As I mentioned, it's a competitive market and the Department of Workforce Services can assist job seekers in improving their opportunities for success. With our repository of the latest labor market information, online customers have the ability to determine educational requirements, skill sets, wage information and how many expected openings there are throughout the state for basically every field.
We offer assistance in preparing a resume that will get noticed and information on where to access additional training for "in-demand" occupations. At jobs.utah.gov, job seekers who are thinking about changing career paths or who have been out of the job market for an extended period of time can determine how their current job skills match up in today's labor market.
In addition to our online services, DWS offers a series of workshops and seminars in employment centers located throughout the state. These workshops include the innovative "Work Success" program, which is an intensive two-week curriculum for the long-term unemployed job seeker (the program does have eligibility requirements). Our employment counselors specialize in working with job seekers of all ages and within every skill level and can connect them to the work place. It's their job.
Our counselors and workforce development specialists are dedicated to connecting job seekers with employment opportunities that reflect our local economies. We know that Utah's borders expand beyond the Wasatch Front and that, from Logan to Loa to LaVerkin, each part of our great state has different needs and diverse economies. We want to meet those needs. Our job is helping you find yours.
Kristen Cox is executive director of the Utah Department of Workforce Services.