CT Unemployment Office
The Connecticut (CT) Unemployment Office is a government service committed to protecting the interests of Connecticut workers. The purpose of this office and the Connecticut (CT) Department of Labor is to assist workers and employers in remaining active competitors in the global and national economy. The Connecticut Unemployment Office has fourteen locations across the state called Career Centers that provide special services to employers and other businesses. The Department of Labor website offers the convenience of providing directions to all Career Center locations including a printable version, as well as information on upcoming job fairs, free workshops, and recruitment opportunities. In addition, the Department of Labor has a mobile Career Center called the Career Express that is packed with the latest technology to help workers looking for jobs and businesses looking for employees.
The Department of Labor has hundreds of services available through the Connecticut Unemployment Office for those looking for work:
The *Apprentice Program* features skilled consultants work with qualified employers who are willing to become program sponsors. This means on-the-job training and a chance for workers to learn a skilled trade.
*Individual Development Accounts *are a great option for low-income families who would like help establishing a regular plan of saving money to buy an asset such as a first home, small business, continuing education, or a vehicle to obtain and keep a job. Details on this service are available at the Department of Labor website and all Career Center locations.
The *School-To-Career* System integrates career exploration with school and work-based learning to create graduates from Connecticut schools who are sufficiently skilled to meet the industry needs of the state. The program includes 8 areas of career concentration: Arts and Media, Business and Finance, Construction: Technologies and Design, Environmental, Natural Resources, and Agriculture, Government, Education, and Human Services, Health and BioSciences, Retail, Tourism, Recreation, and Entrepreneurship, and finally, Technologies, Manufacturing, Communications, and Repair.
The *Shared Work* program offers employees the opportunity to take a small hour or wage cut in lieu of lay-offs during temporary declines in business. This is a strong asset to any community as it prevents large losses in jobs for an active workforce and personal crises for the individuals workers themselves.
The *Welfare to Work *program enables individuals to become independent of welfare with suitable employment at the end of a 21-month program. The program also provides ongoing support for them to remain independent and have the opportunity to participate in training activities.
All services provided by the Department of Labor are available to migrant and seasonal workers by Federal regulations. Also, the State of Connecticut by way of an organized committee and state policy makes an effort to ensure all websites, Career Centers Connecticut Unemployment Offices, and Career Express mobile centers are accessible to people with disabilities.
The Connecticut Unemployment Office offers hundreds of agency publications available through their website or one of their many locations to guide workers and employees through the eligibility details of all the programs they offer. There are programs and services in addition to the ones mentioned in this article and details and information regarding these opportunities can be found at any location, the website, or by calling (860) 263-6000. For your convenience, the Connecticut Unemployment Office can also be reached by e-mail using the following address: dol.webhelp@ct.gov If you find yourself in the midst of an employment crisis, remember that there are tons of services in place to help you that are only a phone call or click away.
