Rhode Island Selected by US Department of Labor 
to Receive Reemployment Grant (pdf)
February 28, 2005

CRANSTON – The Director of the RI Department of Labor and Training, Adelita S. Orefice, has announced that the US Department of Labor awarded $600,000 to the Unemployment Insurance (UI) Division to pilot a new Reemployment and Eligibility Assessment (REA) Project. Rhode Island was one of several states in the nation to be awarded funds through a special grant process. The plan targets individuals who have filed for UI benefits and whose employment background matches occupations in high growth industries. Orefice is hopeful that through rapid reemployment intervention, the duration of the unemployment for these individuals will be shortened; thereby decreasing the number of weeks each participant collects UI benefits and consequently providing savings to the UI Trust Fund. 

The Unemployment Insurance Division will contract with the Workforce Development Division to provide specific services to individuals who meet criteria set by the US Department of Labor. These individuals will participate in group orientations and eligibility will be determined by a new automated job matching system. The system will also determine the probability that the claimant will return to work in a high growth industry. Eligible claimants will receive targeted job search assistance and participate in job development activities such as resume writing and job search workshops.

The $600,000 grant will also allow the Rhode Island Department of Labor and Training to enhance the existing telephone payment system, "Tele-Serve." When an individual calls to file an unemployment claim, the interviewer will now identify the claimant’s occupation and enter it into the new system. The system will then search a directory of Occupational Codes, called O*Net, and identify the appropriate code. Individuals calling Tele-Serve for their weekly payment will be notified immediately of any job vacancies matching their code. People who choose to file a claim through the Internet will enter their job title and job description and will have the opportunity to select the appropriate code from the O*Net list. When calling Tele-Serve for their payment, they too will be notified of jobs in the database that match their prior job description.

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The Rhode Island Department of Labor and Training offers a wide array of employment and training services to both the general public and to individuals with unusual barriers to employment. DLT is ready to assist any job seeker, whether the goal is a first job, a better job, or a career change. Rhode Island's work force is protected through the enforcement of labor laws, prevailing wage rates, and work place health and safety standards. Temporary income support is available to unemployed, sick, or injured workers and a comprehensive rehabilitation program is available to those injured on the job.

DLT is dedicated to the growth and competitiveness of Rhode Island industry, administering a variety of training grants, tax credits, and apprenticeship programs to help employers. Economic indicators and labor market information are available for long-range planning. The Agency engages in active outreach, helping large and small employers retain their best workers or retrain their existing work force. At no cost to the employer, DLT will also screen job applicants, post job vacancies, and help businesses institute cost-sharing programs that can avert layoffs.

For more information on the innovative programs and services available to all Rhode Islanders at the Department of Labor and Training, please call (401) 462-8000 or visit our web site at www.dlt.ri.gov.

Equal Opportunity Employer/Program
Auxiliary aids and services are available upon request to individuals with disabilities.
TDD (401) 462-8006