A summer employment program for youth in Hunterdon and Somerset counties is looking for interested employers to help provide paid work experiences for up to 80 young people in the two counties, as well as candidates to fill those positions.

This marks the fourth consecutive year that the Greater Raritan Workforce Development Board (GRWDB) is sponsoring a Summer Youth Employment Program with funding from the New Jersey Department of Labor. In 2022, 56 youth worked for 24 different employers. Based on that success, the GRWDB has received a state grant of $193,500 for 60 positions; using American Rescue Plan funding, Somerset County is allocating funding for an additional 20 positions, enabling up to 80 youth to get paid work this summer.

The program will run from June 5 to Oct. 30. Youth participants must be between the ages of 16 and 24 and can be in school or out of school. Each participant will work 25 hours per week over any eight-week period. Of that weekly total 21 hours will be for the employers; the other four hours per week will be spent on specially designed career readiness training using the SkillUp Greater Raritan online learning portal.

Employers, Deadline April 21

For the GRWDB Summer Youth Employment Program, any private or public employer of any size in Hunterdon and Somerset counties with available part-time positions may apply. These can be outdoor employment opportunities or on-site job work that abides by CDC guidelines. Employer applicants can be from any industry; municipalities looking to fill summer recreational positions are welcomed to apply as are area nonprofits looking for office assistance.

The virtual weekly workforce readiness training will be overseen by Greater Raritan Workforce Development Board staff. The youth participant’s stipend will be $15.00 an hour for 25 hours per week for their eight-week internship/work experience. That means each program participant will earn $3,000.

The employer Request for Applications (RFAs) for the program, which includes the job description form for the position, can be found on Somerset County’s Purchasing Division website, at https://bit.ly/3Ty0SMJ. The deadline for applications is April 21.

“We are excited to be able to offer this program to young people in our two counties for a fourth year,” said Jeanne Cassano, the GRWDB’s job developer and coordinator for the GRWDB Summer Youth Employment Program. “We know this program offers a valuable introduction to career pathways and good work habits. It also can lead to other opportunities. Five participants last year continued to work with their employer after the summer ended.”

Youth Employment, Deadline April 28

As employer applications are coming in, the GRWDB is accepting separate applications from eligible in-school or out-of-school youth who must live in Hunterdon or Somerset counties and be 16 to 24 years old. The program aims to place 80 youth from the two counties who will be matched with the available positions. To obtain an application, visit the home page www.thegrwdb.org or use this link. The deadline to return material is April 28.

“We have reached out directly to employers, schools and everyone else we can think of to share news about this opportunity,” Cassano said. “We realize the applications are detailed, but we are ready to answer your questions and provide whatever assistance we can. We want all youth participants and employers to benefit from this program.”

Anyone with questions can contact Cassano at jcassano@co.somerset.nj.us or call 908-541-5785.

The Greater Raritan Workforce Development Board (GRWDB)

The GRWDB oversees federally and state-funded career and employment services for businesses and residents in Hunterdon and Somerset counties. Weekly text alerts highlight career and job opportunities in Somerset and Hunterdon counties. Text “onestop” to 565-12 to sign up.

A new Raritan Valley Community College Career Scholarship program is helping students begin their career path through training that is supported by the Hunterdon and Somerset Boards of County Commissioners and funds from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA).

A portion of funds received from the ARPA, was allocated to need-based career scholarships for training programs in high-demand industries offered at the Branchburg-based Raritan Valley Community College (RVCC). The scholarships were made possible through recommendations and collaboration between the Greater Raritan Workforce Development Board (GRWDB) and the Hunterdon and Somerset County Boards of Commissioners.

The career-training scholarship program began with a request for funding from the GRWDB. As a result of the request, the Boards of Commissioners allocated a total of $50,000 to the RVCC Career Scholarship grant program. Somerset County students received $38,000, and Hunterdon County students obtained $12,000 in grant money. The funding can be used until the end of 2023.

“Hunterdon County’s partnership with RVCC and the GRWDB is truly paying dividends for students in Hunterdon County,” said Hunterdon County Commissioner Jeff Kuhl, liaison to the GRWDB. “I, along with my colleagues on the board are excited to be able to offer scholarship opportunities to talented students enrolled within in-demand career training programs at Raritan Valley Community College.”

Eleven Somerset County residents and three Hunterdon County residents have been accepted into the scholarship program so far. Fourteen students completed the college’s training for phlebotomy and electrocardiogram (ECG) technicians, both of which are entry points into well-paying healthcare careers. The scholarships pay for the program training costs as well as for related book and exam fees, and as-needed background and liability insurance.

“The scholarships allow breathing room for students who may otherwise be faced with the choice of paying for education or paying for rent or healthcare,” said Joanna Hala, GRWDB board chair. “This effort aligns with the work of the United Way of Northern New Jersey to educate people about our ALICE population – Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed.”

“Somerset County is committed to providing the education and training our younger residents need to take advantage of the in-demand, good-paying jobs of the future,” said Somerset County Commissioner Deputy Director Doug Singleterry, liaison to the GRWDB. “These eleven Raritan Valley Community College scholarship students are the tip of the iceberg, and I look forward to providing more opportunities for more students in 2023.”

The first cohort of scholarship recipients came from seven Somerset County communities – Basking Ridge, Branchburg, Bridgewater, North Plainfield, Raritan Borough, Somerset and Warren – and three Hunterdon County communities – Annandale, Lebanon and Milford. Recipients ranged in age and life experiences, with some employed, others seeking employment, and some are new Americans. All recipients were excited to venture into a new career.

“The scholarship makes such a huge difference in allowing me to continue my studies and pursue better opportunities,” said Kevin Parsi, a Warren resident who completed his ECG course. “I was recently accepted into the nursing program at RVCC, and this scholarship goes a long way in allowing me to fund my studies as well as living expenses as I continue through this journey.”

Another student reported that after completing the course, he was hired as a full-time Phlebotomist/Lab Assistant at one hospital and as a per diem ED Technician at another hospital.

Approximately $21,235 of the funds have been used for training and related costs for the first group of scholarship recipients. There is a total of $28,765.25 in funds remaining for eligible applicants who are interested in in-demand training programs at RVCC.

To view Career Training opportunities at Raritan Valley Community College, visit https://www.raritanval.edu/career-training.

To learn more about the RVCC Career Scholarship grant program, email Maryam Sheikh at the Workforce Training Center of RVCC at Maryam.Sheikh@raritanval.edu.

More information about the GRWDB, its program partners and area workforce system services can be found at www.thegrwdb.org.

Weekly text alerts highlight career and job opportunities in Somerset and Hunterdon counties. Text “onestop” to 565-12 to sign up.

The Greater Raritan Workforce Development Board (GRWDB)
The GRWDB oversees $4 million annually in federal-, state- and county-funded career and employment services for businesses and residents in Hunterdon and Somerset counties. In recent years, it has expanded its footprint of services and programs, to ensure that it is connecting job seekers to career-development pathway opportunities around the region.

The Greater Raritan Workforce Development Board (GRWDB) invites community members, employers, residents, and public officials in Hunterdon and Somerset Counties to share their thoughts about the workforce services and programs in the two counties. Input from stakeholders will help the GRWDB develop its 2023 workforce four-year plan.

Some 50 community members representing different stakeholders in Somerset and Hunterdon Counties participated in a Dec. 6 Local Plan discussion hosted by the Greater Raritan Workforce Development Board. Individuals took part virtually as well as in person in Somerville.

The first public meeting about the Local Plan was conducted on Dec. 6 in Somerville. The meeting drew more than 50 individuals, who attended in person and remotely. They talked about existing services, reviewed data about different programs’ participants and outcomes, and suggested ways to expand outreach and focus.

Online Surveys for Public Input

To receive more input and expand community involvement, the GRWDB has developed three surveys for different groups in the two counties. These include:

• Individuals looking for work or who are already in the workforce – go here to complete the survey
• Employers looking to hire, with a focus on skills these employers need right now – go here to complete the survey
• Social-service agencies assisting individuals with a variety of issues, including career development – go here to complete the survey.

The surveys will be open through March 15, 2023. Input from each will be woven into the Local Plan, which must be completed in the spring of 2023.

Every four years, New Jersey’s 17 local workforce boards are required to write a Local Plan to each board better serve their clients. Each of the 17 Plans outlines workforce services and programs available to employers and job seekers and ways to collaborate and improve the system. The plan is developed based on local data trends and evaluations of existing services, along with input received from the public discussion.

Public Input Meeting Schedule

Local Plan discussion also will take place during first-quarter meetings of the Board and its committees, which are open to the public. The 2023 meeting schedules can be found here. In addition, once the draft of the Local Plan is completed, there will be a 30-day comment period open to all community members. Once that is over, any comments will be included in the plan, which will be sent to the New Jersey State Employment and Training Commission for review.

The full information deck of the Dec. 6 meeting can be accessed here. For more information on the Local Plan and to provide comment, email info@thegrwdb.org or contact GRWDB Director Paul Grzella at 908-541-5790.

About the Greater Workforce Development Board (GRWDB)

The GRWDB oversees $4 million annually in federal-, state- and county-funded career and employment services for businesses and residents in Hunterdon and Somerset counties.

More information about the GRWDB can be found at www.thegrwdb.org. Weekly text alerts highlight career and job opportunities in Somerset and Hunterdon counties. Text “onestop” to 565-12 to sign up.

The Greater Raritan One-Stop Career Center in Somerville is hosting a series of Jersey Job Club Workshops in March. These workshops will be virtual, through Zoom, with a limited number of seats are available for in-person attendance at the One-Stop Career Center, 75 Veterans Memorial Drive, Somerville.

The partners in the Greater Raritan One-Stop Career Center have the expertise and knowledge to help job seekers have success. In Jersey Job Club workshops, a Greater Raritan One-Stop Career Coach leads hour- to 90-minute-long discussions on topics aimed at assisting job seekers in Hunterdon and Somerset Counties. There is no charge to attend.

Dates and topics are:

• Monday, March 6, 9 to 10 a.m.:  Path to Employment, Planning Your Job Search – Workshop 1
• Monday, March 6, 10:30 a.m. to 12 p.m.: Networking – Best (fastest) Way to Find a Job
• Monday, March 13, 9 to 10:30 a.m.: Resume Writing Workshop 1 – Top Notch Resume
• Monday, March 13, 11 a.m. to 12 p.m.: Resume Writing Workshop 2 – Cover Letters and More
• Monday, March 20, 9 to 10:30 a.m.: Acing the Interview 1 – Preparing for the Interview
• Monday, March 20, 11 a.m. to 12 p.m.: Acing the Interview 2 – Answering Interview Questions

To attend virtually or in person, fill out an information/registration form. Once completed, email it to Richard.Peterson@dol.nj.gov by the Wednesday before the scheduled workshop, or call 908-704-3000 and ask for Rick or Mary Ann.

Walk-in, appointment, virtual and phone services are available to career seekers in Somerset and Hunterdon Counties through the Greater Raritan One-Stop Career Center offices in Somerville and Flemington.

• The Greater Raritan One-Stop Career Center offices are Employment Services and Division of Vocational Rehabilitation Services (DVRS) at 75 Veterans Memorial Blvd. in Somerville are open for walk-in services 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday to Friday, excluding state holidays. For information on Employment Services, call 908-704-3000. For information on DVRS, call 904-704-3030.
• The Greater Raritan One-Stop Career Training Center on the second floor of 27 Warren St. in Somerville is open for walk-in services from 8:30 a.m.to 7 p.m. Monday, and from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Tuesday to Friday, excluding county holidays. Call 908-541-5780; email onestop@co.somerset.nj.us.
• The Greater Raritan One-Stop Career Center at 6 Gauntt Place in Flemington is open for walk-in services 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday to Wednesday, and by appointment only on Thursday and Friday, as well as phone and virtual services, excluding county holidays. Call 908-237-0016; email onestop@co.somerset.nj.us.

While walk-in service is available at all these offices, appointments are encouraged to ensure staff will be available as needed by career seekers looking for assistance with job search, resume assistance, training assistance and general career questions. These offices also have public-use computers available for career-related work.

Staff members of the Greater Raritan Workforce Development Board (GRWDB) are available for walk-in and appointment service from 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. on the third floor of 27 Warren St. in Somerville. Call 908-541-5790 or email info@thegrwdb.org.

For more information on general system services, visit the home page of www.thegrwdb.org.

Unemployment assistance is not available at any Greater Raritan location. Those with unemployment questions may call 732-761-2020 or visit https://myunemployment.nj.gov to explore additional resources or make an appointment for in-person assistance at one of 13 locations around the state.

The Greater Raritan Workforce Development Board oversees federally and state-funded career and employment services for businesses and residents in Hunterdon and Somerset counties. Weekly text alerts highlight career and job opportunities in Somerset and Hunterdon counties. Text “onestop” to 565-12 to sign up.

For individuals and their families dealing with substance abuse issues, securing and staying in jobs is crucial for maintaining recovery and sustaining lives.

The Greater Raritan Pathways to Recovery program for residents of Hunterdon and Somerset Counties supports this goal by assisting people impacted by the ongoing opioid epidemic with free training opportunities, career-readiness programming, supportive services and employment. People participating in the program can be either directly or indirectly impacted by the opioid epidemic – meaning those who are in recovery as well as family members and friends who have assisted those with addictions. (Go here for the Spanish-language version of the program flyer.)

Watch this video to learn more about the Greater Raritan program.

The Greater Raritan Workforce Development Board (GRWDB) successfully applied for a competitive New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development (NJDOL) to launch the Pathways to Recovery program in both counties in the beginning of 2022. The program grant has been extended, and the program staff members are working to serve up to 100 residents through June of 2023.

New Jersey introduced Pathways to Recovery in select counties in 2019 and introduced it to the state’s remaining counties in the fall of 2022. The program is a response to the increased number of overdose deaths, treatment demands and administration of Naloxone throughout the state.

The Suspected Drug Related Deaths 2021 report by the New Jersey Office of the Chief State Medical Examiner found 19 deaths in Hunterdon County and 17 deaths in Somerset County – a year-over decline of about 21 percent. Statewide, there were 3,124 suspected deaths. In that same timeframe, there were 57 incidents of the administration of Naloxone in Hunterdon County and 196 in Somerset County – a 20 percent year-over-year decline but on par with 2019’s figures.

The 2021 data from the New Jersey Substance Abuse Monitoring System (NJ-SAMS) tells a similarly disturbing story. In  2021, 409 Hunterdon County residents were admitted for substance abuse treatment; 61.4 percent were unemployed or not in the labor force.  In Somerset County, the data shows that of the 973 individuals who were admitted for substance abuse treatment 59.1 percent were unemployed or not in the labor force.

Nakeyda Wheeler, the GRWDB’s Pathways to Recovery representative, works with residents of both counties who are interested in being part of the program. The Roselle-based Prevention Links, the program’s vendor, is also connecting people to services and providing some parts of the program. In addition, Wheeler is collaborating with a variety of community organizations as well as county agencies that may interact with this population to build awareness about the services offered through the grant.

“My goal is to work with multiple stakeholders in both counties to strengthen collaboration among our programs and expand the network of services available to our residents,” Wheeler said. “I want to help people get good-paying jobs and enable them to maintain their recovery and improve their lives. Pathways to Recovery has been set up to have wide eligibility, so that we can assist as many people as possible.”

Residents interested in training can either work with Prevention Links to take part in a Peer Recovery Specialist certificate and internship program or participate in an in-demand training offered through the Greater Raritan One-Stop Career Training Services Center. Wheeler and the Training Center staff also can connect program participants to immediate employment opportunities. In addition, Prevention Links provides participants with career readiness programming and supportive services for all Pathways to Recovery participants.

To learn more or to have a presentation about the program for your agency, business or community group, contact Nakeyda Wheeler at 908-203-6047, 908-530-9030 or nwheeler@co.somerset.nj.us. For information on Prevention Link Pathways to Recovery-related services, call 732-381-4100.

The GRWDB oversees federally and state-funded career and employment services for businesses and residents in Hunterdon and Somerset counties. Weekly text alerts highlight career and job opportunities in Somerset and Hunterdon counties. Text “onestop” to 565-12 to sign up.

Free adult literacy programs for English language learners of different levels are available this winter to residents of Hunterdon and Somerset counties.

The program providers, Raritan Valley Community College (RVCC) and the Hunterdon County Educational Services Commission (HCECS), are part of the Greater Raritan Workforce Development Board’s Literacy Committee, which seeks to share information about and expand the effectiveness of the free literacy programs in the two counties.

Programs are funded by a Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act federal grant that provides assistance to adults in gaining the necessary literacy and English skills to participate in workforce training programs and employment.

Raritan Valley Community College

RVCC offers free literacy and English language skills to help individuals prepare for employment in the in-demand food service industry. The upcoming classes will be conducted remotely, via Zoom.

Classes in the Integrated English Literacy and Civics Education Program focus on skills such as listening, speaking and writing. Class participants who complete the literacy program and complete 10 hours of training in the areas of appreciation, prevention, avoidance and reduction of health hazards and safety in the workplace are eligible to receive either the ServSafe Food Handler or OSHA 10 certification. These certifications are required by the majority of entry-level restaurant or food service jobs.

Winter classes began on Dec.  12 and 13. The classes, being conducted on Zoom, meet at different times throughout the week, in the evening and daytime. The classes, planned to be 15 to 17 people each, typically meet twice a week and run for two and a half hours. Classes go through April 2023. For more information on the classes, visit https://www.raritanval.edu/literacy. Interested residents can email Bonnie.Scharf@raritanval.edu or call 908-526-1200, ext. 8686, to schedule a placement testing session. 

Hunterdon County Education Services Commission

High school equivalency, basic computer skills and English Language Acquisition classes are offered by the HCESC at five in-person locations in the two counties. Eleven classes run two days per week at various times at the following locations:

• In Bound Brook, evenings at the Bound Brook Library;
• In Flemington, mornings and evenings at the Flemington Adult Literacy Center on Bartles Corner Road 
• In the Somerset section of Franklin, evenings at Franklin Middle School, and evenings at the Christian Center of Somerset (including a hybrid option)
• In Somerville, mornings at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church.

For more details, visit www.hunterdonesc.org and click on the links for Adult Programs / English Classes or High School Equivalency. For details about the program, email adultliteracy@hunterdonesc.org, or call 908-237-5000, ext. 11, in Hunterdon County or 908-541-5781 in Somerset County.

HSESC Workforce Learning Link

The HCESC also operates two Workforce Learning Link sites offering adult literacy programs. These programs, offered through the Greater Raritan One-Stop Career Center and funded by the GRWDB, have virtual and in-person components. Visit www.hunterdonesc.org and click on the Adult Programs/Workforce Learning Link.

Other literacy programs

Volunteers at Hunterdon Helpline provide free literacy services through custom, one-on-one, barrier-free individualized instruction, for low to high English language levels. Email literacy@helplinehc.com or call 908-782-4357 or visit www.helplinehc.org.

Volunteers at the Literacy Volunteers of Somerset County provide free English Language Acquisition through one-on-one tutoring in which the student and tutor pick the time and place, which can be in-person or through Zoom. High beginner through low advanced levels are accommodated, with the number of “seats” determined by the number of tutors. In addition, the Literacy Volunteers also offer Intermediate Conversation Groups on Zoom and in person at the Manville, Bound Brook and Hillsborough libraries; these are drop-in group, with no seating limits. For more information, email info@literacysomerset.org, call 908-725-5430, or visit LiteracySomerset.org. The site also provides details on the LVSC’s year-long Cultural Connections initiative in which tutors and students explored culture and how it affects communication.

Individuals also may contact either organization to learn about how to become a program tutor.

The Hunterdon County Library offers weekly online English Conversation Groups, at 7 p.m. Wednesdays and 1 p.m. Thursdays. These are low to high levels and there is no seat limit. Email tedwards@hclibrary.us or call 908-713-7005.

Zarephath Christian Church in the Franklin, Somerset County, offers English-language classes, group conversations and accent reduction. Email zmayes@zarephath.org or call 732-560-4001.

Weekly text updates highlight career and job opportunities in Somerset and Hunterdon counties. Text “onestop” to 565-12 to sign up. Additional information on career-development programs offered by the partners of the Greater Raritan Workforce Development Board can be found on www.thegrwdb.org.

Through policy, oversight, and planning The Greater Raritan Workforce Development Board (GRWDB) ensures that workforce training and education are responsive to and meet the needs of employers and job seekers.

Over the past two years, your local workforce system, serving Hunterdon and Somerset counties, has continued to evolve how it provides services and reaches out to the community about those services. The GRWDB is part of statewide workforce system that connects employers and residents to a range of in-person and virtual career-related services, including the tens of thousands of open positions available in New Jersey.

Working with the Somerset County Public Information Office, system partners collaborated on videos to explain our mission, vision and services for employers and job seekers in these ever-changing times.

Go here to hear about our services for employers. Employers also can go to the resources/employers tab on our website for more links and information.

Go here to hear about our services for job seekers. Job seekers also can go to the resources / job seekers tab on our website for more links and information.

Go here to hear about the Youth Employment Services (YES) Program.

The Greater Raritan Workforce Development Board and its partners offer a variety of free programs and resources to assist job seekers. This includes assistance with job search, resume reviews, career counseling, career-related webinars and workshops, information on training grants for unemployed and underemployed individuals, and connection to career services for low-income residents. Additional free resources available in Hunterdon and Somerset counties are the Greater Raritan Resume Portal, SkillUp Greater Raritan, and a local literacy connection guide. Local partners also offer free literacy classes throughout the year, and state partners regularly host Virtual Information Sessions for companies hiring in the two counties.

More information on GRWDB and system partners programs is available on the Events/Calendar tab of www.thegrwdb.org/.

Service models offered by Greater Raritan One-Stop partners reflect what is happening and is wanted by customers today, with hybrid models offering appointment in-person services along with the virtual suite of services developed by partners since the pandemic began.

• The Greater Raritan One-Stop Career Training Service Center at 27 Warren St., second floor, in Somerville is open for walk-in career-related services 8:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday and 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Tuesday to Friday.  Call 908-541-5780 or email onestop@co.somerset.nj.us.
• Walk-in career-related services are available 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday to Wednesday at the Greater Raritan One-Stop Career Center at 6 Gauntt Place in Flemington. Appointment-only services are available Thursday and Friday. Call 908-237-0016 or email onestop@co.somerset.nj.us.
• Staff members at the Greater Raritan One-Stop / Employment Services Center and the Division of Vocational Rehabilitation Services (DVRS) at 75 Veterans Memorial Drive in Somerville are available for walk-in service as well as in-person and phone appointments seeking career-related services.  Offices are open 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday to Friday, excluding state holidays. To schedule an appointment with Employment Services in Somerville, call 908-704-3000; in Flemington, call 908-782-2371. Contact DVRS at 908-704-3030. Residents also can fill out this virtual form to detail what help they need; the completed form will be directed to local officials for direct response.

While walk-ins are welcomed at the offices, appointments are encouraged to ensure staff availability. Staff in all offices also assist customers over the phone, via email and through virtual appointments, and a virtual orientation session for new customers is conducted on Friday mornings by Training Center staff. Virtual career-webinars also continue, as do virtual and in-person job fairs.

Learn more about Greater Raritan services

The Greater Raritan One-Stop Training Services Center team also has posted a fun and informative series of videos called P.E.P. (Preparing for Employment Possibilities) Talks. Watch:

• Meet the Team
• What Does Your E-Mail Address Say About You
• Sending Professional E-mails
• Online Resources
• Foundations of Resumes
• ITAs and Tuition Waivers
• Phone Etiquette
• Interview Questions
• Tour of the Flemington One-Stop
• Tour of the Somerville One-Stop
• Social Media and Your Job Search
• Cover Letters
• Interview Questions

System services assist a variety of populations and residents. These includes programs for residents of either county receiving Temporary Assistance for Needy Families, General Assistance or Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. As part of this program effort, the Greater Raritan Workforce Development Board offers a Chromebook Loaner Program for eligible participants. Partner services also include the Workforce Learning Link to assist with basic literacy and computer skills and high school diploma equivalency work — this brochure provides more details, in English and Spanish. Another targeted service is the Youth Employment Services Program (YES Program), for out-of-school youth, ages 16 to 24, in Hunterdon and Somerset counties — learn more by reading this program brochure,  in English and Spanish.

Learn more about New Jersey services

Career services for job seekers also are highlighted on the New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development’s website. The site also includes a section of Worker Benefits, Protections and COVID19; this handy checklist can help as well.

The New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development also offers Job Source, offering a variety of tools designed to help fuel a successful job search experience. Users can create a free account and get tips and templates for job search, resume writing, cover letters and many other free services.

Please note: The majority of unemployment-related services are being done online or through a call centers. Residents also can schedule in-person appointments at 13 designated One-Stop Career Center locations throughout New Jersey. (Greater Raritan is NOT among those locations.) Appointments and pre-screening are required; no walk-ins will be served. 

Customers who need to file new Unemployment Insurance claims, update existing claims, have questions about their claims or want to make an make an  in-person appointment may go to https://myunemployment.nj.gov;  click on “Check claim status” and then “Schedule Appointments Online,” following the page prompts. Customers unable to access the Internet should call the following numbers: North Jersey, 201-601-4100; Central Jersey, 732-761-2020; Southern Jersey: 856-507-2340. 

There are also numerous state and community programs and resources available to those who need additional support. For information on assistance in the areas of family, food, child care, health, substance use disorder, rent, housing, utilities, and specialized services for older adults, individuals with disabilities, and survivors of domestic or sexual violence, please visit myunemployment.nj.gov/morehelp.  

Weekly text alerts highlighting career and job opportunities in Somerset and Hunterdon counties are available by texting “onestop” to 565-12. Contact the Greater Raritan Workforce Development Board at info@thegrwdb.org or 908-541-5790.

For more information about services for employers, go to the GRWDB website here. For more information about services  for job seekers, go here.