Unemployment is rampant in Windsor but community resources are able to help

Helen Lebert, supervisor of the City of Windsor’s Employment and Training Services, poses in her office on March 4. (Photo by Felicia Patterson)

 

By Felicia Patterson

Despite having trouble finding employment, Windsorites can receive help from government funded services.

As of January 2016, Windsor’s unemployment rate was 8.3 per cent, a slight decrease from last year’s rate of 8.8 per cent, according to Statistics Canada.

Government funded services are available to help Windsor’s unemployed by offering workshops and job training. One community resource, a division of the City of Windsor Employment and Training Services, offers various types of assistance including interview skill training and resume preparations. At ETS locations, the general public has access to computers, printers and are encouraged to consult staff members for help.

The supervisor of the ETS says that their offices offer a number of services, dealing with issues beyond employment.

“There are two components to what we deliver,” said Helen Lebert, a supervisor at Employment and Training Services. “One is called Resource and Information. The resource centre is sort of like a community hub where we have all kinds of information on community agencies and services that are available to people. Then we have what’s called Assisted Services, where a person would come in and they would be introduced to one of our case workers. They would be assessed and the worker would help go over that person’s options as far as getting back into the workforce.”

One University of Windsor student said she has accessed ETS for help finding employment.

“It has always been difficult for me to find jobs in Windsor. Not even prestigious jobs but jobs like fast food restaurants and any store in the mall,” said Chanel Beckford, 24. “About a year and a half ago I reached out to Employment Services. Though I did not get hired or get any interviews using this service, they did send a lot of job postings which, in a sense, was helpful.”

Another Windsor woman said the difficulty in finding employment has caused her to attend college in an attempt to become more qualified.

“In high school I looked for part-time work with no luck. I decided to go to college, took a three year human resource program and I’m still having difficulty finding work,” said Arianna Dejesus, a single mother. “It’s frustrating being a young, single parent who did finish high school as well as moved on to college and graduated.”

The City of Windsor’s Employment and Training Services offers a number of programs available to the general public, as well as other services where an application is necessary. Some of these programs include Coaching and Mentoring, Second Career Strategies and Apprenticeship Training.