Sept. 27, 2007 — The Employer Forum held Thursday at Gertrude's on Hess Road gave those looking for workers the chance "to get up close and personal with the V. I. Department of Labor," in the words of moderator Valerie George, an independent consultant and certified trainer.
The forum, which drew about 50 people, was part of Labor Awareness Month.
George told employers the department can help them find workers through veterans employment training, labor market information, ads for job vacancies, workshops and hosting job fairs. The department website is another good resource, she said, with information on job services and training, recruiting, skills testing and more.
Rupert O'Bryan, deputy chief of the V.I. Probation office, is currently working with the department in the Offender Workforce Employer Program to encourage people to hire felons. The program is a crime reduction initiative program. Studies have shown that if released felons are given a chance at gainful employment, chances are they will be law-abiding citizens.
"We need to change the mindset of employers about felons," said O'Bryan. "When they come out of the federal prison system they are some of the best-trained employees."
The department's goals and plans will be shaped by the input from employers answering questions in a survey. "These surveys are very important, because the department needs to know what employers want," said George.
In a focus group session, employers said they would like to see the department do more with helping people in resume writing and interviewing skills. Also seen as important were teaching customer service and how to dress for an interview. The employers would like to see the department match people with the job and skill requirements. "Adequate services in employee training should be provided so people will be employable," said Anastasie Jackson, principal at the Career and Technical Center.
"There has to be collaboration between the department and employers," said Arah Lockhart, assistant commissioner of labor, "This requires thinking outside the box and having a vision."
Some of the businesses attending the forum were Seaborne, Carambola, Licensing and Consumer Affairs, V.I. Port Authority, Buccaneer, Waste Management Authority and Department of Public Works.
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