Dislocated worker resources may vary depending on the type of job you had or where you live. We respond immediately to review your options, to apply for unemployment benefits, and inquire about services for dislocated workers. This is the quickest way to determine if and where you qualify for the available services.
You may be a dislocated worker if you have lost your job and one or more of these factors about you is true:
- You have been terminated, laid off, or received a "notice of termination or layoff" and is unlikely to return to your usual occupation or industry because of:
- a permanent plant closure
- a substantial layoff
- foreign competition
- lack of demand for your skills
- You are self-employed, but the economy or a natural disaster has put you out of work. Examples include farmers, ranchers, and fishermen (probably ineligible for unemployment benefits).
- You are a displaced homemaker who is either unemployed or working at a job that does not support your household (probably ineligible for unemployment benefits).
- Individual Training Accounts: If you are economically disadvantaged or dislocated from your job due to a layoff, you may be eligible to receive an Individual Training Accounts (ITA) grant up to $4,000. You may choose from several leading post-secondary schools or colleges, provided the school is approved by New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development and the field deemed a demand occupation. If you are unemployed, you may be eligible to receive a tuition waiver to attend classes (tuition-free) at a New Jersey state college or university. If you are interested in obtaining a GED or need basic educational skills in reading or math, you may qualify for classroom study. For further information, contact the Passaic One-Stop at 973-742-9226.
- Transition Manual: The New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development has developed a Manual for Transitioning Dislocated Workers. This manual is the first in a series that focuses on dislocated workers from the financial services sector, which is the focal point of the current economic crisis. By analyzing skills and education of the required categories the State identified compatible jobs in abundance in the non-finance industries. Also, compatibility takes prior wages of dislocated workers into consideration along with any needed training to transition into a job. The manual also outlines various available opportunities in the emerging green economy.
- E-Learning: The Passaic One-Stop offers online job training or “E-Learning,” allowing access to over 2,500 online courses from multiple career disciplines to enhance job skills. ITAs and E-Learning are also available for low-income individuals.
- On-the-Job-Training (OJT) Grants: Supported by federal funds, OJT grants could help acquire the knowledge and skills necessary to perform adequately on the job.
- Disaster Relief Employment: The One-Stop and Passaic County partnered in 2011 to support a Disaster Relief Employment Program for municipalities hit by Hurricane Irene. Through a National Emergency Grant, One-Stop put 65 individuals to work in 14 communities for restorative efforts. These temporary jobs were open to the long-term unemployed or to those who lost their jobs due to the hurricane.
The law defines disability as the inability to engage in any substantial gainful activity (work) by reason of any medical determinable physical or mental impairment(s), that can be expected to result in death or that last or expected to last at least a continuous 12-month period.
At the state level, the New Jersey Division of Vocational Rehabilitation Services (DVRS) provides services that enable individuals with disabilities to find jobs. The DVRS agency also assist candidates with disabilities who are having problems keeping their jobs. DVRS is staffed by experienced rehabilitation counselors who provide valuable services to people with physical, learning, mental or emotional difficulties that need assistance obtaining or maintaining employment. Learn more about Vocational Rehabilitation Services in New Jersey.
The New Jersey Division of Disability Services focuses on serving people who have become disabled as adults, whether through illness or injury. Such conditions are also called late-onset disabilities. It is estimated that one in five people – about 1.75 million New Jerseyans – has a disability that may limit his/her physical or cognitive function. Learn more about the services this division offers to people with disabilities.
Unemployment Insurance (UI) is available for laid-off workers. For new claims call (English) 973-742-9226 x7341 or file a claim online for unemployment benefits. If you are having difficulty with your claim, you may speak with a UI representative on a first-come, first-served basis. Telephone lines and computers are available at the One-Stop free of charge.
If you are 55 and over with low income, the WorkForce 55+ program offers various job search assistance programs. The aim of WorkForce 55+ is to help seniors return to the workplace through an exciting program, which you earn while you learn. WorkForce 55+ participants receive the counseling, assessment, and training necessary to enable them to placement in unsubsidized employment. Learn more about WorkForce 55+.
If you are a qualified veteran of the U.S. military, a Veterans Representative can assist with your job search. The Jobs for Veterans Act affords “priority of service” to veterans and spouses seeking employment, training, and placement services provided by the New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development. Learn more about priority of service for eligible veterans and spouses and One-Stop services for Veteran job seekers.
