The Statesboro offices of both WorkSource Georgia and the Georgia Department of Labor have relocated to the former Georgia Power office, at 305 South Main Street, as a shared one-stop location providing assistance to job seekers as well as employers.
Previously the Georgia Department of Labor’s career center was at 62 Packinghouse Road, while WorkSource Georgia’s job center was across town in the Bulloch County Outreach Center on Denmark Street. But after starting their move near the end of 2018, both agencies have been open to the public at the South Main Street facility exclusively since Jan. 22.
A federal mandate now requires agencies providing workforce support services to share locations, explained WorkSource Coastal interim Executive Director Sheron Morgan.
“We are required to co-locate, so that’s why we are moving in together,” Morgan said. “Services are still the same for each agency. However, we are partnering together in efforts to impact workforce development throughout these 10 counties.”
The center is open 8 a.m.-5 p.m., Monday through Friday.
WorkSource Georgia
WorkSource Georgia provides federally funded employment and training services administered by the Technical College System of Georgia. Its main programs are those established under the federal Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act.
Specifically, the unit here is part of Savannah-based WorkSource Coastal, which operates seven career centers in its 10-county region. It is overseen by a Coastal Workforce Development Board, and the city of Savannah serves as fiscal agent. Fred Hill is Bulloch County’s representative on the Workforce Development Board, and county commissioners Chairman Roy Thompson serves on an advisory board made up of local government officials.
WorkSource has funding available to provide job training to adults in “a wide range of high demand careers in the area,” Morgan said.
Youth summer jobs
But with springtime arriving, WorkSource’s services for youth and young adults are of special seasonal interest. These include training, internship and summer job opportunities for income-eligible persons ages 16-24 who are no longer in school or will soon graduate.
The agency will start accepting applications May 1 for the youth summer employment program, again for those ages 16-24 who are out of school or will graduate this summer. Those accepted will begin 20 hours of job readiness training June 3 for job placements beginning June 10.
The summer jobs last until Aug. 31. Wages range up to $9 an hour for up to 30 hours work each week, and youth take aptitude and interest assessments for job placement.
“Any employer that is interested in providing a meaningful work experience for the summer can contact our office in Statesboro,” Morgan said.
The number there is (912) 681-4134, or Work Experience Coordinator Chris Hagan can be contacted at (912) 414-5488 or by email at chagan@rossworks.com.
The WorkSource center also hosts GED courses, helping people prepare to take the General Education Development exam for a high school-equivalency diploma. The South Main location will be nearer for many Statesboro residents than the Ogeechee Technical College campus, where GED classes are also available, and is in walking distance for some.
Much of the job-specific training that WorkSource Coastal offers, in things such as welding and industrial maintenance, is provided by Ogeechee Tech.
Department of Labor
Although the Georgia Department of Labor is the older agency and has greater name recognition, WorkSource Georgia’s signs appear on the front of their new home, and sources described WorkSource as the lead tenant, sharing its space with the GDOL.
“Overall it’s been working great as far as referring our customers,” GDOL Statesboro Career Center Manager Jennifer Bradley said of the new co-location. “We just need to get people used to where we are.”
Besides handling unemployment insurance claims, Georgia Department of Labor career centers provide job search assistance. Indeed, both agencies have experience providing job seekers help such as tutorials in resume’ preparation.
For employers, the Georgia Department of Labor offers job listing and recruitment services and assistance with quarterly tax and wage reports. The GDOL hosts specialty workshops to bridge gaps between job seekers’ skills and employers’ needs.
GDOL offices also handle the Work Opportunity Tax Credit program, providing employers incentives for job creation. Federal bonding of employees for certain jobs is also handled through state Department of Labor offices. Both agencies can assist veterans with some special services related to jobs and education.
Other job agencies
Other partner agencies, such as Job Corps, Legacy Link and the Technical College System of Georgia can also use the career center’s space as needed. Legacy Link is the program, previously known as Experience Works, for older workers.
“Even though they’re not directly housed in this location, they still can come in and utilize the space if we have a customer that needs their services,” Bradley said of those agencies.
Employers can also reserve space and get computer access there for employee recruitment activities if needed, Morgan said.
People from the Statesboro-Bulloch Chamber of Commerce and local governments are slated to join WorkSource Georgia and the GDOL for a ribbon cutting ceremony at the newly repurposed building Tuesday at 11 a.m.