Members of a statewide coalition of non-profit organizations and government agencies will give more than $15 million to support Illinois employees displaced by September 11th. Qualified former employees are eligible for up to $6,000 in training for high-growth employment areas as well as a wide range of career services, including career counseling, resume and interview skills, outplacement services, and help with starting a business.
The career services, known as actionLAUNCH, are designed for a wide range of former employees, from those who worked in the service industry to former executives and middle managers. Most of the employees who lost their jobs were in travel-related industries, an area that is still struggling even as the economy rebounds.
ActionLAUNCH comes at a particularly critical time for those who lost their employment. Approximately 12,000 people were laid off as the result of September 11th. Advocates estimate that only about 2,000 have been re-hired by their former companies, and a small percentage were able to transfer to another company. However, a challenging economy has made the transition more difficult for those in the travel and hospitality industry. Although state and federal unemployment benefits were extended for qualified individuals, those benefits are soon due to expire, increasing the urgency for many who are unemployed.
“Often people think of career services as only serving lower-income workers. But middle managers and executives were hard hit by September 11th layoffs, and the market is very competitive,” said Al Saulys, director of programs for Workforce Development Inc., one of actionLAUNCH’s partner organizations. “ActionLAUNCH services can give all employees the edge they need to get back in the market.”
Any employee who was laid off as the result of September 11th and worked for a company that was impacted is eligible for services. Interested people can contact toll-free (866) -55ACTION or visit www.actionIllinois.org to confirm eligibility and find the location closest to them.
Those unemployed as a result of September 11th have found services such as training and outplacement services critical as they examine their careers.
“After I was furloughed, I spent every spare minute searching for a job,” said James Griffin, a former United pilot laid off in October of last year. “With nearly every airline cutting back, it was frustrating. As soon as I signed up for aircraft type rating training, though, I got two job interviews.” Griffin is now working as a pilot for a corporate jet company, with a salary similar to that he held prior to September 11th.
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