As we ramp up for 2013 activities and new projects, it’s important to take a moment and reflect on the accomplishments of 2012. Each achievement marked a milestone in the Association’s history and was possible as a result of our Members, Board of Directors, partner organizations and dedicated staff. 2012 truly was a year filled with growth and expanded outreach!
Below are a few highlights from 2012.
JobCentral.com Transitioned to US.jobs
In early January, the National Labor Exchange (NLX) transitioned from JobCentral.com to the more aptly named US.jobs. This name change and shift to the .JOBS top-level domain (TLD) was a natural fit with the goals and mission of the NLX in more ways than one and helped describe exactly what the domain represents, a national database of jobs.
Mobile Functionality Added to the .JOBS Top-level Domain
To coincide with the growing trend of smartphone users, mobile functionality was added to the .JOBS Universe, making each .JOBS Microsite and NLX hosted job bank accessible on smartphones and other devices. This has helped Members reach a growing number of job seekers who search for jobs on-the-go or who don’t have access to computers.
Full Support of the NLX from All 50 States and U.S. Territories Secured
The tireless efforts of the National Association of State Workforce Agencies (NASWA) brought about an unprecedented event. The addition of the state of Michigan, provide the NLX with a major accomplishment this year as it received participation from all 50 states. With the support of all 50 states, the NLX can now more efficiently download jobs from multi-state employers into the state job banks.
One Million Jobs Milestone Reached
In addition to receiving support from all 50 states, the NLX reached another pivotal milestone as the total daily job count reached one million. This was made possible with the support of our partner the National Association of State Workforce Agencies (NASWA), their constituents, state workforce agencies and over 100,000 employers.
Veterans.jobs Search Enhanced
DirectEmployers dedicates a tremendous amount of effort throughout the year to support transitioning servicemen and women looking to enter into the civilian workforce. To help make this change easier, we revamped Veterans.jobs and enhanced the search functionality with better military skills matching.
20,000 Federal Jobs Added to US.jobs
US.jobs was further bolstered with the addition of 20,000 federal employment opportunities from USAJobs.gov. While all job seekers benefited from this addition, veterans specifically were positively impacted as each federal job added contained Veterans Preference.
Youth Enhancement Summer Program (YESP12) Created
DirectEmployers pledged commitment to participate in Summer Jobs+, a unique program for youth initiated by the Obama Administration and the Department of Labor. Going the extra step, we created a weeklong program for Indianapolis high school students, helping them learn the inner workings of the Association.
Social Jobs Partnership Job Application Launched
As a collaborative effort, the partners of the Social Jobs Partnership announced a job app designed to help unemployed Americans find work. This job application was launched on the Facebook platform and featured 1.7 millions jobs, 1.1 million of which were provided by the NLX. Providing another free option for our Members to distribute their jobs via social media.
.JOBS TLD Dispute with ICANN Dismissed
The Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) formally announced its withdrawal of the February 2011 Notice of Breach against Employ Media, the registry operator of the .JOBS TLD. This withdrawal confirmed that Employ Media was in good standing and gave us the go ahead to continue the build out of the .JOBS TLD. Providing the employer owned and managed .JOBS Universe platform the opportunity to begin expanding internationally.
While this is only a small look into the Association’s accomplishments for 2012, I am so proud to have the continued support of our Members. Each partnership created and initiative is solely to benefit you, our Members.
To see our accomplishments in more detail, please visit the DirectEmployers timeline. Members, join your exclusive online community and learn how you can get more involved. Or, if you’re not a Member but interested in learning more, please visit our Become A Member page.
Here’s to a productive 2013!
