In recognition of May as National Workforce Development Month, the Montgomery County Department of Economic Development’s (DED)Workforce Services Division co-sponsored several events, offered job readiness workshops, participated in industry seminars, and, as part of its ongoing mission, served hundreds of job seekers and employers through the MontgomeryWorks One-Stop Career Centers.

 “A skilled, well-trained workforce is a vital component of any community’s economic vitality, and we are proud to have one of the most educated workforces in the nation,” said Montgomery County Executive Isiah Leggett. “This great workforce, however, must be maintained, nurtured and upgraded to meet the ever-changing needs and demands of knowledge-based, globally competitive companies. That’s where the programs and initiatives of our outstanding Workforce Services Division come into play.”

In conjunction with national organizations such as the National Workforce Association and the National Association for Workforce Development Professionals, workforce development entities throughout the country highlight the importance of the Workforce Development system and the critical role it plays in keeping the economy strong and residents working to their highest potential.

Through MontgomeryWorks, the County supports a system that assists job seekers with finding their first job, next and/or best jobs for them. Workshops are offered to those looking to sharpen basic office and computer skills, while other programs focus on enhancing interview and resume writing skills. Services are also provided to assist the business community in finding, hiring and retaining qualified workers, which, in turn, helps businesses reach and maintain the highest levels of productivity and competitiveness.

“Businesses can take advantage of grants to help cover or offset the cost of training or upgrading the skills of existing staff in a particular skill set,” said Barbara Kaufmann, manager of the Workforce Services Division. “We recognize that the lifeblood of any successful business is the preparedness of its employees.”

Montgomery Works is on pace to assist more than 11,000 job-seekers in the current fiscal year, including the unemployed and underemployed, with the goal of helping them identify the right job or career that will propel them to success.

During May, the Workforce Services Division collaborated with the Jewish Council for the Aging to host the recent 50+ Employment Expo. The Workforce Investment Board’s Youth Council has teamed up with the Latin American Youth Center’s Maryland Multicultural Youth Centers (MMYC) to host the third annual “Let’s Get It Started” youth job fair on Saturday, May 31 from 10 am to 2 pm at the Montgomery College Rockville Campus Gymnasium.

The County has three One-Stop Career Centers located in Wheaton, Gaithersburg and in Clarksburg at the Detention Center. During 2007, the centers served more than 10,000 job seekers and assisted more than 300 employers with recruitment needs.

For information on Saturday’s youth job fair, call Janelle Cauthen at 301-495-0441 ext. 223. To learn more about services and resources available through the County’s Workforce Services Division, go to www.montgomeryworks.com.