WESTMORELAND COUNTY, PA (April 23, 2021) – On April 4, 2021, Governor Tom Wolf announced adjusted COVID-19 guidelines for businesses as vaccination rates across Pennsylvania increase. Since then, PA CareerLink® centers cross the Westmoreland-Fayette area, in addition to the Westmoreland-Fayette Workforce Investment Board and PA CareerLink® One-Stop Operator the Private Industry Council of Westmoreland/Fayette Inc., have been in discussions concerning the next steps forward to ensure the safety of PA CareerLink® staff and customers.
Adhering to the new guidelines, all three Westmoreland-Fayette PA CareerLink® centers (PA CareerLink® Westmoreland County at Youngwood, PA CareerLink® Fayette County, and PA CareerLink® Alle-Kiski) will change their appointment protocol. Visitors will no longer be required to make an appointment before visiting Westmoreland-Fayette PA CareerLink® centers. However, appointments will continue to be encouraged and appreciated.
Permitting walk-in visitors will most likely increase Westmoreland-Fayette PA CareerLink® centers’ abilities in providing one-on-one career counseling, adult education, job training, interview practice, and public access to the computer room. This change comes at the ideal time, as Westmoreland-Fayette PA CareerLink® staff are beginning to see an increased number of employers seeking employees.
“There are dozens of local employers looking for new hires at the moment,” said Westmoreland-Fayette Workforce Investment Board Executive Director Janet Ward. “Westmoreland-Fayette PA CareerLink® centers are happy to offer their workforce services to anyone looking to re-enter the workforce or to anyone looking for a career change.”
Despite being open to the public, Westmoreland-Fayette PA CareerLink® centers will maintain mask-wearing and six-foot social distancing requirements in addition to all Center for Disease and Control (CDC) safety guidelines.
Since reopening in July 2020, Westmoreland-Fayette PA CareerLink® centers have been cleaning surfaces regularly; creating signage, seating, and space that promotes safety; ensuring an adequate supply of personal protection equipment (PPE) to all staff; teleworking whenever possible. Westmoreland-Fayette PA CareerLink® centers also plan to return the Triage Centers used in the summer of 2020 to manage the intake of visitors. The Triage Centers will ensure that social distancing and occupancy guidelines are followed.
While the increase in occupancy may allow Westmoreland-Fayette PA CareerLink® centers to serve more visitors, it is encouraged that those interested in visiting confirm that the services they seek are not already available online. Currently, PA CareerLink® centers offer virtual services such as resume development, job exploration, interview practice, job market data, virtual workshops, and more. Additionally, Westmoreland-Fayette PA CareerLink® centers will continue to offer individualized services to job seekers, employers, and young adults.
Contact: Janet Ward, Executive Director | 724-755-2145
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About the Westmoreland-Fayette Workforce Investment Board
The Westmoreland-Fayette Workforce Investment Board (WFWIB) is a non-profit entity consisting of appointees from the business, education, and labor sectors of Westmoreland-Fayette counties. The board is empowered to lead workforce development activities in Fayette and Westmoreland counties. The WFWIB is funded by the Workforce Innovation & Opportunity Act (WIOA), which provides funding to federal workforce programs and local Workforce Development Boards. The WFWIB oversees the three PA CareerLink® centers that are located in Westmoreland and Fayette county: PA CareerLink® Westmoreland County at Youngwood, PA CareerLink® Fayette County, and PA CareerLink® Alle-Kiski. For more information about the Westmoreland-Fayette Workforce Investment Board, please visit www.WestFayWIB.org.
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