Job Service working to help people deal with COVID-19

Job Service-Havre is helping people in the community and the surrounding counties deal with unemployment from COVID-19.

As of March 28, 24,067 initial unemployment claims were filed in the state of Montana and 32,858 was the number of Montanans filing a continued unemployment insurance claim, the official state website says.

With unemployment, Job Service-Havre Manager Carol Lamey said, Job Service is helping Montanans with their unemployment questions.

“Right now, about 70 job service and employment relations staff have gone through training to assist with commonly asked inquiries, including some technical assistance with the Montana worksite,” she said. “Workforce consultants can help you with some of your questions over the phone or by email to help Montanans with unemployment insurance questions, in addition to our usual services.”

Those usual services are workshops which include starting the job search, job search techniques, writing effective resumes and interviewing with confidence.

 She said Job Service is encouraging Montanans to file for unemployment benefits the week they become unemployed or their hours are reduced.

“We’re still available in the office, but you can’t come in the office,” Lamey said. “All the offices are locked, they are closed to the public due to the health and safety of our clients and our staff to prevent the spread of COVID-19.”

She said help is available by phone, email or online at http://mtworks.gov .

People who have questions or would like to know more information can call 265-5847 or email [email protected].

While the offices are closed, she said, they are going to continue to work and are here for Montanans in their coverage areas of Hill, Blaine, Phillips, Liberty and part of Chouteau county.

“If there is something we can help with we are still here, it’s just you can’t come in,” she said.

Many people have probably not filed for unemployment, she said, adding that Job Service can help people through the process and for people who doesn’t have access to a computer the job service can file a claim for them.

“We are all in this together, and as COVID-19 impacts the life and work of Montanans across the state, it’s created an unprecedented demand for our services, especially unemployment insurance, so Job Service-Havre is here to help Montanans during this time of need,” Lamey said.