Even though Cooke County has the lowest unemployment rate in the tri-county area, Gainesville Site Manager for Texoma Workforce Solutions Cheryl Davis said that the percentage of unemployed workers is rising.

“We have seen a lot more people in here lately looking for work,” said Davis. “Our job is to help them find employment.”

“When someone has just become unemployed, their world has just caved in on them and they want answers and need help,” said Davis.

Texoma Workforce Solutions is the resource to turn to after filing an application for unemployment benefits.

“We are not the unemployment office,” said Davis. “We aren’t trying to be rude, we just are not the authorized avenue through which unemployment insurance goes. We are not the unemployment specialists.”

In fact, there are no unemployment offices in the State of Texas. Everything is filed over the internet or over the telephone. If an individual needs to apply for unemployment benefits, Texoma Workforce Solutions does have community telephones and computer worksites that the public can use to apply for the benefits.

Davis said that it is better to apply for unemployment benefits on the internet because with so many people becoming unemployed right now, it is very difficult to get through on the telephone line. The website address to file for unemployment benefits is www.texasworkforce.org. The Tele-Center to apply for unemployment benefits using the phone is 1-800-939-6631.

Those receiving unemployment benefits may need to attend an orientation with Texoma Workforce Solutions. If this is a requirement for the individual applicant, they will be notified by a letter in the mail.

After applying for unemployment benefits, the next step is to get registered with WorkinTexas.com. Failure to register within three business days will cause complications in receiving unemployment insurance payments.

When registering with WorkInTexas.com a job-seeker can determine the type of work, geographic location(s) and pay rate they want. When there is a match between the applicant’s stated job skills and a posted job opportunity, the job seeker will be notified by E-mail or mail. The job seeker should then follow-up immediately with the employer.

Those unfamiliar with computers or the internet can take the basic computer class offered by Texoma Workforce Solutions which includes the basics of navigating the WorkInTexas.com website for the purpose of finding employment.

Texoma Workforce Solutions has a Resource Room equipped with computer workstations and telephone workstations available to anyone looking for work and for those looking to upgrade their employment situation.

The computers are available to check job matches through the Work In Texas website, create resumes and to find job opportunities on internet job-sites such as monster.com.

Resumes can be filed on-line or printed out to fax, deliver or mail to prospective employers. Job seekers can also post their resume on-line so prospective employers can review them.

The Resource Room has newspapers from Gainesville, Denton and Sherman so job seekers can read the ads for available job opportunities.

The Texoma Workforce Solutions Resource Room includes a children’s playroom for those on-site and using the resource room to look for employment. The playroom includes toys and a VCR. Children do need to be supervised by parents while they are using the Resource Room.

Job-seekers don’t need to be receiving unemployment benefits to use the Texoma Workforce Solutions Resource Room. It is available to the public from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.

“The time it takes to find work depends on the type of work they are looking for,” said Davis. “It takes longer if you are seeking a professional position. Positions in retail, cashiering, fast food and sales are easier to find.”

“Because we are a smaller office we can do a lot more on a one on one basis with a job seeker,” said Davis.

“A lot of people are looking for production and assembly work right now, but due top the slow-down of the economy, the production industry is not hiring much right now,” said Davis.

Davis said that before the economy took a downturn, there were usually positions available in production and “that is where the greatest need is right now.”

“There are a lot of positions for RN’s, LVN’s, truck drivers, cashiers, cooks, dietary aide’s, house-keepers, juvenile correction officers and in retail and sales,” said Davis.

“We also do a lot of agency referrals here,” said Davis, “meaning, we try to find assistance to help pay utility bills and help with access to food pantries for those out of work.

Texoma Workforce Solutions does have some programs such as the Workforce Investment Act (WIA) which can financially assist individuals to return to school and pay for textbooks at North Central Texas College and Grayson County College.

“There are two income streams,” said Davis. “One for low-income adults and one for dislocated workers.”

For those looking for employment or to upgrade their job or career situation, there are also other resources in the community such as ABBA, who offers basic computer classes to upgrade skills. NCTC offers assessment testing, which can help to match an individual to a suitable occupation.

“I see that businesses will start booming again, the economy will come back around,” said Davis. “We’re just on the low end right now.”

Texoma Workforce Solutions is located at 900 N. Grand Ave., Suite 103 in Gainesville. Their telephone number is 940-665-1121 and their website address is www.workforcesolutionstexoma.com.