Indianapolis, IN – March 30, 2009 – National Labor Exchange (www.jobcentral.com) has launched a nationwide, web-based Rapid Reemployment Initiative to connect displaced workers and downsizing employers with hiring employers. This initiative, powered by JobCentral, is provided by an alliance between DirectEmployers Association, a nonprofit consortium of 475 leading U.S. corporations, and the National Association of State Workforce Agencies (NASWA) free-of-charge to job seekers and employers in all industries.

The National Labor Exchange currently connects job seekers with both hiring employers and participating state workforce agencies where unemployed, underemployed and displaced workers have access to career counseling, skill assessment, job search assistance, training and other services to upgrade their skills and find new job opportunities. The Rapid Reemployment Initiative adds an employer outplacement data exchange, career event network and resume builder with integrated job search tools to this nationwide online employment service.

Employees from companies that are downsizing are typically displaced through no fault of their own and have transferrable skills that are extremely valuable to employers in other occupations and other industries. The goal of the Rapid Reemployment Initiative is to greatly reduce the length of time displaced workers remain unemployed.

“Workers have reemployment opportunities even in bad times,” states Richard A. Hobbie, NASWA’s Executive Director. He continues, “Despite the current recession, there are about three million job openings in the economy right now. The Rapid Reemployment Initiative recommits the National Labor Exchange, the flagship service of our public-private alliance, to helping employers find good workers and helping workers find good jobs faster and more efficiently”.

“The National Labor Exchange’s mission is to provide a cost-effective national employment system that improves labor market efficiency. We are working together to align and leverage the assets and power of major U.S. corporations and all workforce partners to minimize the economic impact on displaced workers,” says Bill Warren, DirectEmployers Association’s Executive Director.

To learn more or to participate in the Rapid Reemployment Initiative, visit www.jobcentral.org, email info@jobcentral.com, or call DirectEmployers Association at 1.866.268.6206.

National Labor Exchange, powered by JobCentral, is the flagship service of a public-private alliance between DirectEmployers Association, a nonprofit consortium of leading U.S. corporations, and the National Association of State Workforce Agencies (NASWA). The mission of the National Labor Exchange is to provide a cost-effective national employment system that improves labor market efficiency and reflects our nation’s diverse workforce.

DirectEmployers Association (www.DirectEmployers.org) is a nonprofit consortium owned and managed by leading U.S. employers whose Board-of-Directors includes representatives from: ABB Inc., Analysts International, PricewaterhouseCoopers, BT Americas, CertainTeed, Chevy Chase Bank, Coca-Cola Enterprises, ConocoPhillips, General Dynamics, IBM Corporation, Janus Capital, KPMG, Lockheed Martin, Merck, Newell Rubbermaid, OSRAM Sylvania, Pierpoint, Providence Health & Services, Qwest Communications, Rolls-Royce, The Boeing Company, The McGraw-Hill Companies, and Xerox Corporation.

National Association of State Workforce Agencies (NASWA) (www.naswa.org) is an organization of state administrators of unemployment insurance laws, employment services, training programs, employment statistics and labor market information and other programs and services provided through publicly-funded state workforce systems.

DirectEmployers Association
Nancy Holland
Vice President – Marketing
DirectEmployers Association
9002 N. Purdue Road, Suite 100
Indianapolis, IN 46268
nancy@jobcentral.org
317.874.9022 phone
317.874.9100 fax

National Association of State Workforce Agencies
Marc Katz
Congressional and Intergovernmental Affairs Director
National Association of State Workforce Agencies
444 North Capitol Street N.W., Suite 142
Washington, D.C. 20001
mkatz@naswa.org
202.434.8020 phone
202.434.8033 fax