Alabama State Employment Service Can Assist in Search for Skilled Employees

“The Employment Service was integral in the initial identification of prospective candidates from which we were able to develop our workforce . . . our associates have been critical to the successes we have achieved during our first years in building two of Honda’s most popular vehicles.”

James Freer, Team Manager, Staffing, Honda Manufacturing of Alabama, LLC

Since 1935, the Alabama State Employment Service has been matching and referring qualified job seekers with employers’ job openings. The Employment Service, a partner in the Alabama Career Center System, serves as a “gateway” to Alabama’s job and labor markets. About one in every five workers in the Alabama’s labor force uses the Employment Service when seeking first jobs, new jobs, or better jobs.

A broad range of placement and related services, from automated self-help to the traditional individual assistance, is offered through a statewide network of Career Centers. Service is also available through “Alabama JobLink,” a 24/7 high-tech internet based labor system for matching employers and job seekers. It is the largest single source of applicants and ensures the widest exposure for employer job openings. It may be accessed at: https://joblink.alabama.gov/ada/.

Employers using the Employment Service also have the following resources available to them at no charge:

• Available space in local offices for employers to conduct interviews with job seekers.
• Automated typing and word processing tests.
• Information on Alien Labor Certification, Work Opportunity Tax Credits (WOTC) and comprehensive Labor Market Information. Information on the WOTC may be accessed at: www.doleta.gov/business/Incentives/opptax/.
• An opportunity to network with other employers through the Alabama Employer Services Committee, and to make recommendations on how the Alabama State Employment Service can better serve Alabama citizens.

Employers prepay for these services through federal unemployment taxes. The Department of Industrial Relations supplements its federal grants with state “enhancement” revenues to address the workforce needs of business and job seekers. Since 1988 the “enhancement” program has focused on assisting unemployment compensation claimants in finding jobs more quickly, thus saving money in the Unemployment Compensation Trust Fund. During the last fiscal year this program helped over 62,000 claimants to find jobs, saving the trust fund an estimated $28.1million.

Here’s what other employers throughout Alabama have said about their experience with the Alabama State Employment Service.

“I got my first job through the Employment Service and have used their services in both Gadsden and Birmingham with first-rate results.”

Wayne Wood, Valspar Corporation

“I have worked with the Career Centers for over 15 years. In that time, I have found them to be very accommodating, professional, and helpful in all of my hiring needs.”

Bob Johnson, Chief Benefits Officer, SkilStaf

“You have one of the best job service searches offered in the U.S. I use job banks across the U.S. everyday to search for qualified applicants. Detail is very important when selecting the right applicant. I have modeled my company’s search fields after your job bank. Thank you for putting a lot of thought into building this recruitment tool for employers.”

Diane Dalman, recruiter, Construction Recruiters, Inc.

“Thank you very much for this opportunity to use you for the first time. I was very pleased with the qualified candidates I received and filled the position quickly. Thank you!”

Deanna Ellis, Brasfield & Gorrie LLC

“For the past couple of years they have helped us in many ways in our efforts to increase our manpower. They are always professional and go “above and beyond.”

Mike Hall, Human Resources Director, Jim Walter Resources, Inc.