The Department of Energy has announced plans to open a career center at Hanford to help workers find new jobs as federal economic stimulus spending ramps down next year.
However, DOE is continuing to discuss other work force transition options, including whether to offer an early retirement program at Hanford. The early retirement option would allow Hanford to retain more of the workers hired and trained with American Recovery and Reinvest Act money. No date for a decision has been released.
As DOE makes plans for a career center at Hanford for workers who lose their jobs, it is considering whether the center will be separate or in partnership with WorkSource, which Hanford has worked with before, said Colin Jones, a DOE senior policy advisor.
WorkSource is a state-funded agency that helps businesses find workers and helps the unemployed get short-term training,
Hanford is one of five DOE environmental cleanup sites that will open career centers. In addition, web-based virtual career centers are planned with links to career information and services with DOE community partners, such as universities.
"The EM (Environmental Management) Contractor Transition Service Program will be a central source for easy access to jobs, training and other essential career track opportunities to help workers be successful," said Cynthia Anderson, the DOE environmental management recovery act director, in a statement.
The career centers will be a central source for environmental cleanup contractors to advertise jobs. Updated résumés of workers will be posted and career counseling and coaching will be offered. Training will be available on interviewing, writing and developing a personal marketing strategy.
The latest Hanford jobs data compiled by DOE earlier this year showed that recovery act money was paying for the equivalent of 3,124 full-time contractor and subcontractor jobs. The nuclear reservation has received $1.96 billion of recovery act money and through August had spent $806 million. Most of the money is expected to be spent by Sept. 30, 2011.
