By Brad Durrell on June 30, 2013
The plight of the long-term unemployed and what is being done to help them was highlighted at the recent Greater Valley Chamber of Commerce annual meeting.
Joseph M. Carbone, president and CEO of The Workplace, talked about the brutal impact the recession that began in 2008 has had on older workers and mid-wage-paying jobs.
“This recession has been a tornado for those age 55 and older,” Carbone said during the meeting at Grassy Hill Lodge in Derby.
He said most new jobs being created now are low wage or part time. “It’s a trend — the mid-wage jobs are going, and going fast,” he said.
National attention on program
Carbone has gained notoriety for The Workplace’s Platform to Employment program, which places long-term unemployed individuals in eight-week-long internships at companies at no cost to the companies.
Most participants end up finding full-time employment. “We give folks a chance,” Carbone said.
The program’s success has been featured on CBS-TV’s “60 Minutes” and other national news programs and publications.
“The impact has been unbelievable,” Carbone said.
With his guidance, Platform to Employment programs now are being launched in 10 locations around the country, funded by the private sector donations.
Thanks businesses for support
Carbone thanked Valley businesses for helping to support Workplace programs here, including the local Platform to Employment.
“The Valley Chamber and its members have never let us down,” he said.
The Workplace is the workforce development board for southwestern Connecticut. It assists those seeking work and skills as well as companies looking for properly trained employees.
Insightful
Mayor Mark Lauretti said he found Carbone’s talk insightful, with the need to create jobs and match skills with those positions.
“I live this stuff every day,” Lauretti said. “It kills me when all these economists say everything is so rosy because it’s not.”
Source article: http://sheltonherald.com/20200/valley-chamber-insight-boosting-the-long-term-unemployed/