Narrative: c.

Utah’s strategy for providing reemployment assistance to Unemployment Insurance claimants and other unemployed individuals involves:

Staff support

• One-stop centers (AJCs) operate throughout Utah. A primary goal of the one-stop delivery system is to serve as the anchor for a statewide workforce development system that effectively responds to the needs of employers, job seekers and the community. The one-stop system provides a comprehensive employment exchange network serving as the connecting point for employers and job seekers. A one-stop center (AJC) provides direct services or referrals for services through partner agencies to meet the individual’s needs. One-stop centers (AJCs) develop and maintain strong relationships with partner agencies to maintain efficiency and avoid duplication of services.
• Department of Workforce Services provides core curriculum and training for all one-stop center (AJC) staff to understand and adhere to federal, state, and the Department of Workforce Services’ policy and procedures. One-stop center (AJC) staff can access all policy and procedures online, or contact state and service-area program specialists to ask questions or obtain policy and procedure clarifications. In addition, supervisors play a very important role in training staff on policy, procedures, and local pathways.
• Department of Workforce Services staff focus on the same overall goal of helping individuals obtain the services and support needed to find employment, regardless of which of the four key business processes they are responsible for: eligibility, employment exchange, employment counseling or unemployment insurance. Outcome targets assist staff in the Department of Workforce Services in achieving its goal of developing the workforce.
• Department of Workforce Services information technology and online services staff continually evaluates the department website’s usability and functionality to assist the ease of users in navigating the site.

Unemployed individuals

• Individuals can access services from the Department of Workforce Services by visiting one-stop centers (AJCs) or using online services, which are accessible 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. The website allows individuals to enter resumes, search for job openings, learn about careers, access economic information, apply for training services, file for
• unemployment insurance benefits and find links to other useful resources. In addition, individuals may apply online for financial services, food stamps, child care, medical, and other supportive service benefits.
• Individuals, throughout the state, can access the same level of service regardless of their location. One-stop centers (AJCs) have a common appearance and feel, including signage. However, local areas have flexibility in establishing pathways driven by resources and local needs.
• Unemployment Insurance claimants, qualified or not, receive a resource document from the department after they have filed for benefits. This is included with the Notice of Monetary Determination and is available online at jobs.utah.gov/ui/resources.html. When a claimant files, they receive labor market information regarding their selected occupation and available local job postings.
• Unemployment insurance claimants who do not qualify for a work-search deferral are required to register for work within 10 business days of filing an initial or reopened claim. The registration process involves creating a profile on Utah’s labor-exchange system, completing an online assessment and taking up to 5 online workshops based on the outcome of the assessment. The online workshops cover topics such as networking, online job search, resumes and interviewing. More than 70% of Unemployment Insurance claimants are referred to complete the labor exchange registration and online assessment.
• The Unemployment Insurance division partners with the Workforce Development Division to offer targeted, virtual and in-person workshops through the Reemployment Support System (RSS). Claimants are referred in two ways. First, workshop presenters select claimants who are identified as most likely to exhaust Unemployment Insurance benefits, and, second, RESEA counselors can refer specific claimants to attend. Claimants who fail to report as scheduled, without good cause, are automatically denied Unemployment Insurance benefits. 
• Employment counselors in the Workforce Development Division conduct outreach to Unemployment Insurance claimants. This is one more tool to connect claimants with resources available through one-stop centers (AJCs) across the state. 
• As the demand for business hiring began to exceed the available labor supply, AJC’s shifted the strategies for employer engagement. For example, workforce development specialists assist employers with posting jobs, consult with them about recruitment strategies, and provide direct support for filling certain positions. Staff utilized the increase in demand for labor as an opportunity to develop jobs for case managed customers from targeted populations. 
• Rural areas of the state focus on the unique needs of job seekers and employers located in remote areas of Utah. Staff encourage employers to hire individuals who live in rural areas and help educate employers on remote work benefits.

Reemployment Services and Eligibility Assessment

One of the ways the state is providing reemployment assistance to Unemployment Insurance claimants is through the Reemployment Services and Eligibility Assessment (RESEA) program. The RESEA program is a statewide program with support of Unemployment Insurance claimants

across the state. Claimants are chosen for the program based on a profiling score compiled when they first file for benefits, which identifies those “most likely to exhaust.”

The initial appointments typically last two hours, during which time the counselors:

• Review labor-market information specific to the customer’s needs.
• Registration with the state jobs bank is completed.
• Provide an orientation to the one-stop services.
• Create an individualized reemployment plan.
• Review and assist with a job-ready resume by appointment completion.
• Provide resources based on the individual customer’s needs, including a referral to training programs as appropriate.
• Refer customers to or schedule them for a variety of workshops.
• Assist with tools for networking and train on online resources.
• Provide mock interviews.
• Provide job referrals.

In addition to the RESEA program, Unemployment Insurance maintains a robust connection to labor-exchange services with one-stop centers (AJCs). This includes working closely with local one-stop center (AJC) staff to co-enrolled in partner programs when appropriate, sharing interfaces within the UWORKS system, developing reemployment strategies to respond to the current situation and assist individuals at the local level, and providing reemployment workshops.