For South Carolina residents, myself included, we’ll now take a look at the career development assistance available in the Palmetto State.
The South Carolina Department of Commerce handles South Carolina workforce development operations in conjunction with the South Carolina Employment Security Commission.
Job searchers can look for positions listed with the State of South Carolina by utilizing the South Carolina JobLink site at www.scjoblink.org. Another search option on the site searches multiple online job databases based on location and keywords at www.scjoblink.org/ada/spider.cfm.
The SCESC operates official OneStop resource centers in 38 cities throughout the state, including locations in Aiken and Barnwell.
The Aiken office is located at 1571 Richland Avenue East in downtown Aiken, and director Tina Barfield can be reached by telephone at 803-641-7640 or aiken@sces.org.
The Barnwell Workforce Center is located at 248 Wall St. in Barnwell, and director Torienia Tucker can be reached at 803-259-7116.
Additional resource centers affiliated with the OneStop program can be found at locations including Aiken Technical College, Edgefield, McCormick, Saluda and Denmark.
The centers provide a variety of services for residents of South Carolina, whether they are looking for jobs or looking for employees. They include:
CORE SERVICES: These services include job search and placement assistance (including career counseling); labor market information; initial assessment of skills and needs; information about available services; and follow-up services for those who have been placed in jobs.
Core services also include self-access and informational services that may be available in resource rooms or online, including:
• Self-access assessment and career planning tools – Including interest and skill inventories, informational videos on career choices, and software to help write resumes.
• Labor market information – Including unemployment rates and projected employment trends within the area, state and nationally; current and projected wages for specific occupational fields; and listings of employers in specific industries.
• Job listings – either computerized or on paper.
• Electronic resume banks – Where you can post your resume for viewing by employers.
• Information about education and training providers – Including libraries that contain brochures, course catalogues and applications for educational institutions in your area. Many centers also provide information about institutions that provide training for specific careers.
• Tutorial programs – Including computer-based instruction in skills such as typing, or using computer software programs.
• Office support products and services – Such as telephones, copiers, fax machines, word processors and printers, enabling users to respond immediately to job leads they find when accessing other center services.
INTENSIVE SERVICES: Intensive services are similar to core services, but more specialized. These services may include:
• Comprehensive assessment
• Individual counseling and career planning
• Case management
• Group career workshops
• Follow-up services
Generally, you will only be eligible for intensive services if you cannot find work using core services alone. However, some people will be allowed to access intensive services directly if they have been determined by their One Stop to be in need of more specialized services in order to find - or keep - a job.
TRAINING SERVICES: You may receive training services only if you are eligible for intensive services and either demonstrate or are assessed as being unable to find or retain a job through intensive services alone. If you are eligible for training services, you will be given access to an Individual Training Account (ITA) once you create a training plan and have it approved. You can then choose from a statewide list of eligible institutions that provide the training you require.
The training services offered by the One Stop Center may include:
• Basic skills training (including GED preparation)
• Occupational skills training
• On-the-job training
• Customized training
• Combined workplace and classroom training
• Skills upgrading and retraining
• Entrepreneurial training
• Readiness training
One Stop Centers may also have specialized services for veterans and youth ages 16 to 24.
For employers, the South Carolina Department of Commerce’s workforce training program, readySC, consistently ranks as one of the top programs in the nation, considered one of the top five state programs for each of the last eight years.
One Stop Centers provide numerous services to employers to help them maximize their businesses. Employers can utilize the centers to access the following services:
• Employee recruitment and screening
• Posting job openings on local, state and national websites
• Receiving and forwarding applicant resumes
• Prescreening and referral of qualified job seekers
• Tax credit information
• Labor market information
• Labor law compliance information
• Additional resources on issues that affect employers
Sources: South Carolina Employment Security Commission, SC Department of Commerce.
