Participation in trade-related unemployment program doubled in past year - October 15, 2009

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Media contact: Mark Varadian, Communications Manager, 360-902-9454

Audio: /newsandinformation/releases/audio/index.php

OLYMPIA – With foreign competition contributing to the state’s high unemployment rates, participation in an unemployment program for workers who lost their jobs due to foreign competition doubled in the past year.

The federal Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA) program, which is administered in Washington by the state Employment Security Department, assists workers who lose their jobs due to increased foreign imports or production being shifted to other countries. 

The program provides certified workers with unemployment benefits and an array of services to help them get back to work.  These include tuition, fees and supplies for training, career counseling, relocation assistance, job-search travel costs and a health-insurance tax credit that’s available through the IRS.

There were 3,752 participants from October 2008 through September 2009, about double the 1,889 participants from the previous year.  Employment Security officials said it’s the highest participation since 2005, when services were still being provided to many aerospace workers affected by 9/11 and the resulting recession.

“This recession has magnified the effects of foreign competition on businesses and our workers,” said Employment Security Commissioner Karen Lee. “Unfortunately, many of these jobs won’t come back, and our WorkSource system is on the front lines of helping these individuals prepare for new careers.”

The TAA program originally was reserved for workers in manufacturing. However, Congress recently expanded the program to include workers in public agencies, service-industry firms, such as maintenance facilities or call centers, or firms that supply testing, packaging, maintenance and transportation services to companies with TAA-certified workers.

Trade-affected unemployed workers who need to learn new skills to obtain suitable employment may receive occupational training, if determined eligible. TAA services also may be expanded to workers whose employers were affected by layoffs at the primary company. 

TAA petitions can be filed by company officials, unions or groups of three or more workers. Anyone who has questions or needs assistance filing a petition should contact the nearest WorkSource office or the state TAA coordinator, at 360-438-3148.

The Employment Security Department administers the TAA program in Washington on behalf of the federal Department of Labor through the WorkSource system.

With three dozen full-service career centers statewide, WorkSource is an easily accessible, centralized location for job seekers and employers. A list of WorkSource locations is available at http://www.wa.gov/esd/wsdirectory_local.htm.

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Web links

TAA program – /hireanemployee/layoffs/tradeact/taa-faq.php

WorkSource – www.go2worksource.com