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December 7, 2001
Chanukah Issue

Employment crisis hits JFSA

Community members go hungry as the availability of jobs decreases.
KYLE BERGER REPORTER

When the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11 knocked down the twin towers of the World Trade Centre in New York, the already struggling economies of the United States and Canada took a significant hit. Unfortunately, few organizations see the impact of the economic recession more than those like the Jewish Family Service Agency (JFSA), whose mandate is to help others.

Ron Goodine, a vocational counsellor for the JFSA, told the Bulletin that his workload has increased at least threefold since this time last year.

"A year ago, we would have had five or six people a month coming to us looking for work," he said. "Now we're dealing with five to seven a week. Some of them are people who have lost jobs and some of them are newcomers to Canada who can't find jobs."

In the past, the JFSA has taken pride in a 75- to 80-per-cent placement rate for qualified job hunters. Goodine said it is too early to offer any current figures.

"There are fewer jobs available right now," he said, before suggesting that the trend was showing no signs of reversing anytime soon. "In the end of 1999 and in 2000, I would send out a broadcast e-mail of star candidates to prospective employers with usually 20 people on the lists and I would get 70 requests for résumés. Employers would be gobbling up people as quickly as possible. Now, I've got a lot of [Internet technology] people that can't find anything."

One year ago, the unemployment rate for the entire Lower Mainland was at 5.9 per cent, compared to the current rate of 7.1 per cent, which Goodine said translates into tens of thousands of jobs.

Goodine said the JFSA is now looking for any type of part-time or temporary work for many of his clients so that they can survive during this tough time.

"Recently, the Combined Jewish Appeal hired 20 people for temporary work with their telethon," he said. "For some of those people, who did a day or two of work, it meant the difference between eating and going without food.

"We may not be able to change the outside world, but I believe that we can begin to ensure that members of the community don't fall into despair," he added.

Charlotte Katzin, the co-ordinator of resettlement, vocational and job match services for the JFSA, said she is afraid that the recession will soon result in an increased number of clients suffering from mental strain or family breakup.

"Clinical depression has been something of a great concern to us but more concerning than that is suicide," she said, noting that one of their clients recently ended their life. "We are very concerned about what's going to happen with people who aren't going to be able to find work."

Katzin said she has also been taking a lot of calls from former clients who had been placed in jobs by the JFSA a year or two ago but are out of work again.

The JFSA's vocational services feature one-on-one counselling, which includes teaching people how to find work, and job search workshops for groups. Their counselling services also include ongoing emotional support for those in need.

If you are an employer looking to hire skilled, qualified workers or if you have any part-time or temporary work available, call the JFSA at 604-257-5151.

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