Panhandle Times

In an effort to help address the issue of rising unemployment, the Panhandle Regional Planning Commission is partnering with other organizations to provide information on local employment opportunities and provide other resources as residents recover from the impact of the COVID-19 economic shutdown.

A consortium of the Texas Workforce Commission, the local Panhandle Workforce Development, and the Workforce Solutions Panhandle Office, according to the Amarillo Globe-News.

The consortium’s governing body, along with the Panhandle Workforce Development Board, selected the Panhandle Regional Planning Commission to serve as the administrative and fiscal agent and also be the recipient of grants for the body. The Workforce Solutions Panhandle Office is the child care and workforce development service component of the consortium, representing 26 counties in its coverage area.

To date, there have been a couple of virtual town hall meetings with notices sent out to 1,900 employers, an effort that is ongoing. Marin Rivas with the Workforce Solutions Panhandle Office told the Globe-News one thing that has been learned is the most pressing issue is addressing the essential workers for essential businesses.

Steps to match the two include the development of the www.jobsnow2020.com website through the Workforce Solutions Panhandle website. The site has compiled a list of employers in need of additional employees.

For those who are seeking unemployment help, the Panhandle Regional Planning Commission remains in contact with Texas Workforce Solutions to help address those needs. Those seeking help are asked to remain patient due to an increase in demand for services.

“We continue to field calls and provide information to job seekers who are reaching out to us — providing advice as far as when to file a claim,” Rivas said. “My recommendation is to file a claim online between the hours of 1 a.m. and 5 a.m. when there tends to be less traffic. It could be a burden, but you’re more likely to get through and less frustrated.”