Employment benefit extension available for some

People in Baker County and across the Oregon whose unemployment benefits ran out or are about to run out may be eligible for a 13-week extension under the Oregon Emergency Benefits program, which kicks in today.

The unemployment benefits extension passed by the 2009 Oregon Legislature and signed into law this summer by Gov. Ted Kulongoski provides up to 13 weeks of additional benefits, according to Tom Fuller, communications director for the Oregon Employment Department.

Fuller reported that as of the week ending Sept. 26, there were more than 162,000 Oregonians receiving unemployment insurance benefits. Employment Department officials say that number may increase as the state enters what is seasonally a time of increased unemployment in Oregon.

The October Labor Trends report released Friday showed that as early September, approximately 3,000 Oregonians came to the end of their unemployment insurance benefits, and an additional 600 were expected to run out of weekly benefits and previous extensions within four weeks.

Baker County’s jobs picture improved during the month of August with a 9.3 percent non-seasonally adjusted unemployment rate, down from 9.7 percent reported for July.

“Unemployment rates have come down for five consecutive months now in Baker County,” said Jason Yohannan, regional economist with the Oregon Employment Department, La Grande office.

However, the arrival of cold, wet and snowy winter weather over the weekend is likely to dampen seasonal summer employment, which Yohannan said traditionally starts dropping off in October and on into the winter months.

According to the October Labor Trends report, Baker County’s August unemployment rate of 9.3 percent represented a 3.3 percent higher rate than the county recorded in August 2008.

In comparison to other Oregon counties, however, Yohannan said in the report that Baker County has fared better than two-thirds of the counties statewide, which recorded August 2009 unemployment rates ranging from a low of 2.1 percent higher than last year in Wheeler County to 7.7 percent higher in Crook County

Unfortunately, Baker County unemployment numbers are expected to take a turn for the worse in December if Ash Grove Cement Co. goes through with plans to temporarily lay off 68 of its 115 current employees Dec. 14 through sometime in early- to mid-February

Meanwhile, Baker County residents and other Oregonians who have exhausted their regular or previously extended unemployment benefit - including those whose claims expired after May 1, 2007 - may be eligible for the state’s emergency benefits program, according to the press statement issued by Fuller.

Each claimant’s weekly benefit amount would equal that of their original claim, according to the press report.

Potentially eligible claimants should have received notices from the Employment Department. This week marks the first week of the program, and it is scheduled to end Jan 2.

The Employment Department encourages individuals who think they may be eligible for extended benefits to file claims as soon as possible.

This week also marks the beginning of a new calendar quarter. With changes in the calendar quarter comes an influx of new claims for unemployment insurance benefits. Fuller said the fastest way to file is online at www.WorkingInOregon.org/ocs.

He said most routine functions of an unemployment insurance claim, such as claiming a week of benefits, changing addresses and checking the status of claims, can all be handled efficiently online, as an alternative to calling the automated telephone system or stopping by a WorkSource Oregon office.

For more information regarding emergency unemployment benefits, stop by he Worksource Oregon office at 1575 Dewey Ave., Baker City, or go to the Employment Department's Web site at www.WorkingInOregon.org.

In addition to filing claims for benefits or extended benefits, job search and training tools and information are available at the Worksource Oregon office in Baker City, according to manager Deb Gargalis.

At the Oregon Worksource Center in Baker City, Becky Guthrie and other staff members help workers hone skills ranging from resume´ writing and interviewing to computer programs, customer service, math, work safety practices and others needed to land the right job when the opportunity arises.

Gargalis encourages people who are going through a period of unemployment to look at the situation as an opportunity to prepare for the next step up in their careers.

Computer training programs available in the Baker City training center include the latest versions of Microsoft Office and Quick Books Pro, Excel, Access and others that employers often want workers to be proficient in.

Gargalis said the staff at aker City’s Oregon Worksource also provides training in coping skills, such as financial planning and budgeting to get by on reduced income from unemployment benefits while completing all of the job search and job training that can help them land what may be wind up being a better job down the road.

In addition to using a time of unemployment to engage in job training to hone skills or prepare for a change in occupations, Gargalis said its important for people to keep a positive attitude and to use the time to set career goals and plan how they are going to accomplish those goals.

Gargalis also recommended the following Internet sites to people looking for work, those considering a career change and people interested in learning more about career options and other labor issues:

• Worksource: www.emp.state.or.us/jobs/

• IMatchSkills: www.imatchskills.org

• JobCentral: www.jobcentral.com/

• Oregon State Jobs: www.oregonjobs.org

• JobDango: www.jobdango.com

• Career Builder: www.careerbuilder.com/

• Labor Market info: www.qualityinfo.org

• 50 Plus: www.workforce50.com/

• Non Profit jobs: www.idealist.org

• Veteran: www.jobcentral.com/vetcentral.