(Describer) Getting to Work.

(narrator) Not all job seekers are alike.

(narrator) Not all job seekers are alike. We come from different backgrounds, We come from different backgrounds, have different interests and abilities, have different interests and abilities, and experience different hurdles in life. and experience different hurdles in life. Whatever your story is, Whatever your story is, if your goal is to shift from a low-paying job if your goal is to shift from a low-paying job to making a living wage to making a living wage or to find a starting point for a new career, or to find a starting point for a new career, then you're in luck. then you're in luck. Many of the great in-demand jobs in Ohio Many of the great in-demand jobs in Ohio require only an industry-recognized credential require only an industry-recognized credential or certification. or certification. You can go back to school for this, You can go back to school for this, but there are other great ways to get one at no cost to you but there are other great ways to get one at no cost to you with help from a local job center. with help from a local job center.

(Describer) On a screen.

We've spent a few decades telling people, We've spent a few decades telling people, "You have to go to college. "You have to go to college. "You have to get a four-year degree, "You have to get a four-year degree, or you can't join the middle class." or you can't join the middle class." It's never been true, It's never been true, and it's never been less true than it is right now. and it's never been less true than it is right now.

(narrator) This is Kevin Holt,

(narrator) This is Kevin Holt, the Director of OhioMeansJobs the Director of OhioMeansJobs for Cincinnati and Hamilton County-- for Cincinnati and Hamilton County-- a publicly funded one-stop shop for job seekers. a publicly funded one-stop shop for job seekers. We work with 19 partners locally-- We work with 19 partners locally-- folks who are helping people get their high-school diploma, folks who are helping people get their high-school diploma, folks who are helping people get vocational services folks who are helping people get vocational services and certifications, and certifications, all connecting employers and job seekers all connecting employers and job seekers with an eye to moving folks towards living wages. with an eye to moving folks towards living wages.

(narrator) There are 88

(narrator) There are 88 of these OhioMeansJobs, or OMJ, centers in Ohio-- of these OhioMeansJobs, or OMJ, centers in Ohio-- one in every county. one in every county. They're part of the Department of Jobs and Family Services-- They're part of the Department of Jobs and Family Services-- a network of collaborating social service a network of collaborating social service and workforce agencies and workforce agencies assisting people of all backgrounds. assisting people of all backgrounds. On the labor side, On the labor side, OMJ can help you navigate available job resources OMJ can help you navigate available job resources and training providers and training providers and will even cover all or some of the costs. and will even cover all or some of the costs. An OMJ center in a major city An OMJ center in a major city will help thousands of job seekers every year. will help thousands of job seekers every year. But because of the great need, But because of the great need, they also work with other local nonprofits they also work with other local nonprofits to have the greatest impact. to have the greatest impact. One of these in Cincinnati is CityLink. One of these in Cincinnati is CityLink. About 15 different agencies actually deliver services here. About 15 different agencies actually deliver services here.

(narrator) This is Johnmark Oudersluys,

(narrator) This is Johnmark Oudersluys, Executive Director at the CityLink Center-- Executive Director at the CityLink Center-- a private, faith-based nonprofit a private, faith-based nonprofit which combines social services and career training which combines social services and career training right on-site to help its clients right on-site to help its clients get out of working poverty. get out of working poverty.

(Oudersluys) Vocational training,

(Oudersluys) Vocational training, education, employment, financial education, education, employment, financial education, and then we've got supporting services-- and then we've got supporting services-- the critical services the critical services that help people remove barriers in their lives that help people remove barriers in their lives and then sustain gains they make. and then sustain gains they make. Child care, transportation, mental-health counseling, Child care, transportation, mental-health counseling, and, actually, we have dental and optical services and, actually, we have dental and optical services here on-site as well. here on-site as well.

(narrator) Where you go to get help

(narrator) Where you go to get help really depends on your individual needs, really depends on your individual needs, whether it's just training or additional support. whether it's just training or additional support. Regardless, keep in mind, Regardless, keep in mind, it doesn't have be an either/or situation. it doesn't have be an either/or situation. You may have both public and private resources You may have both public and private resources to tap into in order to gain stability to tap into in order to gain stability and an economic foothold. and an economic foothold. So ask questions and do a bit of homework. So ask questions and do a bit of homework.

(Describer) Kevin Holt.

They can come to one of us and get the benefit of all of us. They can come to one of us and get the benefit of all of us.

(Oudersluys) It's very much a synergistic relationship

(Oudersluys) It's very much a synergistic relationship of trying to get the right client of trying to get the right client to the right center to the right center that can best help them advance their lives. that can best help them advance their lives.

(narrator) How can job centers

(narrator) How can job centers help you go from $11 an hour, which is about $23,000 a year, help you go from $11 an hour, which is about $23,000 a year, to $17 an hour, or $35K annually? to $17 an hour, or $35K annually? Well, it's all about skilling up in certain sectors, Well, it's all about skilling up in certain sectors, which you can do with credentials. which you can do with credentials.

(Describer) Johnmark Oudersluys .

(Oudersluys) So the sectors we focus on

(Oudersluys) So the sectors we focus on are IT, are IT, construction, culinary now, construction, culinary now, and we're looking expand into some further sectors. and we're looking expand into some further sectors. We're seeing the biggest demand We're seeing the biggest demand in manufacturing, construction, health care, in manufacturing, construction, health care, IT, and logistics. IT, and logistics. Logistics is drivers, but it's also warehouse workers. Logistics is drivers, but it's also warehouse workers.

(narrator) Earning a credential in any one of these sectors

(narrator) Earning a credential in any one of these sectors could change your career trajectory fast, could change your career trajectory fast, which is great because it means you have options, which is great because it means you have options, hopefully some that match up with your own interests. hopefully some that match up with your own interests. And, remember, the training offered And, remember, the training offered may be different in your area, may be different in your area, because job centers are aligning their services because job centers are aligning their services with local business needs. with local business needs. What we serve as is that bridge What we serve as is that bridge between what employers are looking for between what employers are looking for and then our ability to rapidly train individuals and then our ability to rapidly train individuals to walk onto a job, a job site successfully and confidently. to walk onto a job, a job site successfully and confidently. That's important. It's not just certification. That's important. It's not just certification. It's the subsequent employer connections, It's the subsequent employer connections, and we want those two things going hand in hand. and we want those two things going hand in hand.

(narrator) The amount of time it takes job seekers

(narrator) The amount of time it takes job seekers to get through training at any job center to get through training at any job center just depends on your goals and your needs. just depends on your goals and your needs. For CityLink, training may last For CityLink, training may last between four and ten weeks, between four and ten weeks, But if clients need additional social support to succeed, But if clients need additional social support to succeed, it may take longer, and that's okay. it may take longer, and that's okay. For OMJ, the sweet spot is right around 12 weeks For OMJ, the sweet spot is right around 12 weeks to get you ready. to get you ready.

(Holt) Ideally, in three months,

(Holt) Ideally, in three months, they're walking out with a commercial driver's license, they're walking out with a commercial driver's license, an A++ certification or similar IT certification. an A++ certification or similar IT certification. They're walking out with an STNA certification They're walking out with an STNA certification and a connection to a hospital employer. and a connection to a hospital employer.

(narrator) And that smooth transition

(narrator) And that smooth transition back into the workforce back into the workforce is key to jump-starting your career is key to jump-starting your career and your journey to economic independence. and your journey to economic independence.

(Describer) Shaking hands across a table.

But let's be honest-- But let's be honest-- getting a job or getting out of a low-wage job getting a job or getting out of a low-wage job is not easy. is not easy. It's complicated. It's complicated. So it takes a team to help. So it takes a team to help. Job centers, public or private, Job centers, public or private, can be that team, can be that team, helping you find career success helping you find career success as you're getting to work on a brighter future. as you're getting to work on a brighter future.

(Describer) Logos appear, including: American Graduate and Ohio Department of Education. Copyright 2020 Public Media Connect. Accessibility provided by the U.S. Department of Education.

Accessibility provided by the U.S. Department of Education. Accessibility provided by the U.S. Department of Education.