$600 federal unemployment bonus ending. Jobs are available but families face challenges
As millions of Americans were losing their jobs in Match due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the federal government threw them a lifeline, a $600 a week supplement to help the jobless pay their bills.
Unless the unexpected happens and Congress reauthorizes Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation, the program expires this weekend.
Even though that’s bad news for those affected, the news is not all bad in the Bradenton area. The unemployment rate dropped from 11.8 percent in May to 8.6 percent in June and there are hundreds of jobs available.
Yet, families face a very real dilemma.
“It’s going to be tough for a lot of people when the $600 PEUC expires this week. While there are a lot of job openings right now, many people are still at home with children, taking care of sick family members or may have tested positive for COVID-19 themselves and have to quarantine, so that makes for a tricky environment to start a new job,” Jen Zak, communications director for CareerSource Suncoast, said in an email.
“The healthcare industry is posting job openings daily with everything from RNs to drivers and food service. For those looking for a customer service job, Spectrum is actively hiring representatives, and there are also warehouse openings with United Natural Foods, Amazon and Gold Coast Eagle Distributing,” Zak said.
CareerSource Suncoast is also holding a virtual job fair within the next month to help connect individuals with these opportunities and more.
The CareerSource Suncoast hiring web page includes about 90 companies or government organizations, listed alphabetically, that are hiring. Anyone searching for a job can click on specific companies and apply online.
A few highlights from the CareerSource Suncoast hiring page:
▪ Air Products has openings for welders and production techs.
▪ Centerstone has openings for LPNs, clinic techs, RNs, case managers,and more.
▪ Flowers Baking Company of Bradenton has openings in production, maintenance, and territory operations.
▪ Goldcoast Eagle Distributing has openings in the warehouse and for drivers.
▪ Indeed needs resume writers/reviewers.
▪ Manatee County government is seeking help in administrative, lifeguard, utilities and other jobs.
▪ Manatee School District has openings for teachers (100-plus job openings).
▪ New England Machinery has openings for mechanics, machinists, and parts room supervisor.
▪ Pepsico/Tropicana has openings in maintenance, operations, sales, and for drivers.
▪ Publix needs pharmacy techs, deli clerks, and cashiers.
▪ Sarasota County government has “many job openings.”
▪ Sun Hydraulics has openings for test stand operators.
Anyone looking for a job can also search jobfocus.com, a service hosted by the Manatee Chamber of Commerce. Partners in the jobfocus.com web site include Bradenton Area Economic Development Corp., CareerEdge, CareerSource Suncoast, Economic Development Corp. of Sarasota County and Greater Sarasota Chamber of Commerce.
