According to the Pew Research Center, the economic fallout from COVID-19 continues to hit lower-income Americans the harder. Half of the adults who say they lost a job due to the coronavirus outbreak are still unemployed. The job disruption, which has been much more pronounced among certain demographic groups, is strongly linked to financial struggles.
Florida Technical College (FTC) and the African American Chamber of Commerce along with the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of Metro Orlando, Osceola County Veterans Services, CareerSource Central Florida, Dress for Success of Greater Orlando, The Salvation Army, and Commissioner Peggy Choudhry join forces to launch the FTC Cares Re-Employment Fair, a series of workshops designed to assist Central Florida residents left unemployed due to Covid-19 to find work. The free, in-person bilingual training program will be held at the FTC Kissimmee campus on Friday, November 13 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and will cover the skills and training needed for rapid re-employment.
During the 7-hour event, attendees will have the opportunity to attend a variety of beneficial employment resource and development bilingual sessions – such as Military to Civilian and Resume Building – presented by industry-leading professionals. Each session will focus on essential training for overcoming the challenges of reentering the workforce. Additionally, attendees will receive a free haircut and free professional attire for their next interview.
“As our world continues to adapt to the new normal, we want to do our part to help locals develop a re-employment plan, especially for minorities who have suffered the most from pandemic-related job losses in our area,” stated Dr. James Michael Burkett, president of Florida Technical College.
According to the Labor Department, the unemployment rate for Latinos and African-Americans is higher compared to white workers. Though unemployment declined overall from August to September, the month-over-month change was not the same for all groups, among those African-Americans and Latinos, whose unemployment rates stood at 12.1% and 10.3%, respectively, in September.
“While we know that every corner of our economic map has been affected due to the circumstances, there is a racial disparity in the unemployment rate, in which African-Americans are the majority,” said Tanisha Gary, president of the African American Chamber of Commerce of Central Florida. “We want to collaborate with FTC to not only create opportunities for African Americans in Central Florida but connect local employers with resources they need to be successful.”
Another population that has been affected by the coronavirus pandemic is veterans. By April, the jobless rate for all veterans jumped to 11.7%, up from 4.1% the previous month, according to the Institute for Veterans and Military Families at Syracuse University. For the oldest Veterans from World War II, the Korean War, and Vietnam War eras, the rate shot up to a staggering 17%, up from 4.1%.
“Our nation’s heroes have unmatched skills and during their special month, we can’t think of a better way to honor those who have served our country than by providing them with the tools and resources they need to successfully transition from military to civilian,” added Dr. Burkett.
To further aid veterans, FTC also teamed up with Orlando VA Healthcare Systems.
FTC Reemployment Event Workshops:
- Military to Civilian: How to highlight military career accomplishments to attract employers.
- Resume Building: Transform your resume into a powerful tool that will get you interviews. Make the most of your work experience and discover how to use references to your advantage.
*How to communicate your transferable skills to get a job in a different industry.
*Interview etiquette during COVID-19: Could you ask for a video interview? How about skipping the handshake? Know what you’re signing up for before you take a new job.
FTC Cares Reemployment Fair is adhering to COVID-19 safety protocols. Attendees will be screened with a temperature check before entering the building and face coverings are mandatory, along with social distancing.
For more information or to register, visit: https://ftccollege.com/reemployment
*All attendees are required to register on the event site in order to attend.
About FTC
Founded in 1982 to provide private, post-secondary education in specialized fields, Florida Technical College is an academic unit of NUC University (NUC), which is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education, 3624 Market Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104. (267-284-5000) www.msche.org. NUC’s Florida Technical College (FTC), and The Digital Animation & Visual Effects School (The DAVE School) are included in this accreditation. The MSCHE is an institutional accrediting agency recognized by the U.S. Secretary of Education and the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA). FTC offers diploma, associate, and bachelor’s degree programs in a range of professions, including Healthcare, Construction Trades, Hospitality, Beauty, Information Technology, and Business. FTC campuses are located in Orlando, Kissimmee, Lakeland, DeLand, Pembroke Pines, Cutler Bay, and Tampa. Program availability varies by campus.
