Maryvale residents already have access to a new [email protected] job center that will provide free assistance and resources to job seekers.
The City of Phoenix and the Department of Economic Security (DES) worked together to reopen the West Arizona @ Work Job Center, located at 2406 North 51st Avenue in the very heart of Maryvale.
“This is a facility that opened several years ago, but found it necessary to close it for renovations,” said Phoenix District 5 Councilwoman Betty Guardado during an opening ceremony in the city. “Now with a more functional building, top-of-the-line technology and a trained team, it is ready to offer the services people need.”
Early Friday, local officials and officials joined Phoenix Mayor Kate Gallego in the reopening ceremony.
The 11,000 sq ft facility is fully equipped to help those looking for employment, training or taking their career to the next level.
The building has five interview areas, a computer lab, training workshops and meeting rooms, as well as staff to assist those interested in obtaining employment.
“Better connection to technology is critical to the workforce,” said Phoenix Mayor Kate Gallego. “We have great services for individual populations including veterans because we want to be the leader in veteran jobs.”
This is the fourth Arizona @ Work center dedicated to the city of Phoenix, which also serves residents in North, South and Central Phoenix. The center closed during the pandemic due to renovations.
Free bilingual service
The renovated Arizona @ Work del Oeste Job Center is located in the Maryvale area, a community that concentrates a large portion of Latino households.
Guardado explained that the services offered there are entirely bilingual, speaking Spanish.
He also said that hotel companies, construction companies and other industries will come to the place in search of workforce, which will help a lot.
“Many times it happens that people are stuck in same job because they don’t have guide how to start new job search… Now, with this center they will make their life easier, they will teach them that How to start looking for a new job. Write their resume, they’re going to help them apply for new jobs.”
Unemployment Relief in Arizona
According to data from the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics, the unemployment rate in Arizona was recorded at 3.4% in April 2023, the most recent data available.
The highest unemployment rate in Arizona in the past 10 years was 13.9% in April 2020, representing 468,096 unemployed. The historical minimum registered occurred in April 2022 with a total of 129,360.
For the City of Phoenix, the unemployment rate as of March 2023 is 2.9%.
“Unemployment is hidden, but we are working to help ease the problem,” Guardado said. “One of my goals as a council member has been to make sure we get better jobs for people in our community, that they have health insurance, better benefits for them and their families, and I believe Centers like this come in to help make that happen,” he said.
[email protected] centers are located throughout the state and in Maricopa County, in cities such as Mesa, Avondale and Tempe. Those interested can visit the Ariz[email protected] website for more information on services and locations.
Workshops for job seekers are also offered virtually. Check out the events calendar to find out when the next workshop will be held.
