Plant Layoffs: Workforce Assistance 

As a local leader or economic development professional it is critical to understand the resources available to workers being affected by a plant closing or layoff.

As a local leader or economic development professional it is critical to understand the resources available to workers being affected by a plant closing or layoff.

• The Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development provides a system of employment-focused programs and services. Its primary responsibilities include providing job services, training and employment assistance to people looking for work. At the same time the Department works with employers to find the necessary workers to fill current job openings. DWD offers a dislocated worker program that was created to provide rapid response assistance to workers, companies, organized labor and communities affected by business closings and mass layoffs. Rapid-response activities may include identification of layoff or closing events, layoff aversion activities, provision of information on available assistance to affected workers and adjustment strategy planning.

• Wisconsin has a network of 11 Workforce Development Areas (WDAs) that deliver key employment and training resources and services including locally based rapid-response assistance for workers experiencing a layoff or plant closing. Individual WDA web pages contain primary contact information for coordinating rapid-response activities. Employment and training services for dislocated workers are primarily delivered through locally-based Job Centers. Job Centers provide a one-stop service for employers to meet their workforce needs and job seekers to get the career planning, job placement and training services they need to obtain jobs.

• Workers who have lost their jobs may want to seek a new career or enhance their existing skills. The Wisconsin Technical College System works toward ensuring a skilled workforce for Wisconsin through opportunities for career-related technical and adult education in 16 regionally based districts. Technical colleges are important partners in retraining workers that have been dislocated from their current jobs. College training contacts can be found here.

• The U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (ETA) has developed a description at its website of resources for workers facing layoffs. Resources include special programs to assist individuals who have become unemployed as a result of increased imports (Trade Adjustment Assistance), imports specifically from Canada and/or Mexico, or a shift in production to Canada and or Mexico ( North America Free Trade Agreement-Transitional Adjustment Assistance). A listing of Wisconsin companies determined to be eligible for assistance and a listing of Wisconsin TAA Coordinators can also be found at the ETA website.

• If an affected company is unionized, Unions may provide information and resources to union members and leaders that are working through potential or actual plant closings and layoffs.

• Individuals that are facing a layoff or job loss may need assistance coping wih personal finance issues. Click here for a compilation of strategies, techniques and tools. 

• Information on Unemployment Insurance (UI) is found at the Department of Workforce Development website.

• Dislocated workers can look for new jobs at Jobnet. Jobnet is a searchable database containing current job opportunities that employers have listed with the Wisconsin Job Service (Back to Layoffs Menu).