Helpful advice from Warrington Job Centre employees (From Warrington Guardian)

Helpful advice from Warrington Job Centre employees

12:30pm Friday 3rd July 2009

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MORE than twice as many people are now claiming Jobseekers Allowance at Warrington’s Job Centre Plus compared to last year.

Around 2,300 people were registered last May and they were competing for around 5,000 jobs.

But now there are more than 5,000 people claiming benefits and they are faced with a register of about 2,600 vacancies.

“We’re doing our best and we’re doing what we can for them,” said Karen Robinson, customer service manager at Warrington’s Job Centre Plus.

“People are having to change what they’ve always done and look for things they aren’t used to looking for.”

Karen’s department handles between 50 and 60 new claims for Jobseekers Allowance every day, but they see almost as many people leaving the register because they have found jobs as join it.

In May 1,210 people joined the register, but 1,095 left it, and job vacancies are being filled quickly, said Avril Wright, labour market recruitment advisor.

Her role is to liaise with the employer to ensure people are applying for the jobs, but she can also provide relevant training for prospective applicants so they suit the job description better.

Currently work in the care sector and in hospitality are most frequently advertised and Avril can provide training including an overview of the industry, any relevant practical skills and certificates such as those in health and hygiene.

Many people are having to retrain while vaccancies in industries including retail, construction, customer service, administration, logistics and warehouses are few and far between.

“It comes in peaks and troughs but generally they are in decline,” said Avril.

It is these jobs that are most in demand, with many people requesting warehouse vacancies, said Karen.

“We’ve got to try to encourage them into different kinds of work.”

Jobseekers can use job point computers in the centre which have vaccancies in the area listed by date posted, location and sector, and are also encouraged to use the internet at home.

“I don’t think it is true that it is harder to get work once you get older, she added.

“You just have to change what you’ve always done,” said Karen.

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