VIRGINIA WORKS LAUNCHES NEW INITIATIVES TO HELP FEDERAL WORKERS LET GO BY DOGE
The Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) has been making a notable impact on Virginia’s workforce, as cuts to the federal government continue. This is why Virginia Works (the Commonwealth's Department for Workforce Development and Advancement) is launching new initiatives while politicians work to improve conditions for those affected by federal layoffs. Working in the federal government is a huge part of the overall workforce for the state and even with positive efforts aiming to make these cuts hurt as little as possible, there’s still a lot to be done.
What Is Virginia Works?
Virginia Works helps people living in the state with all things employment and now that the federal workforce is being harshly affected by government cuts, Gov. Glenn Youngkin has launched VirginiaHasJobs.com, a new resource to connect displaced workers with 250,000+ job openings, career fairs, and unemployment benefits.
State lawmakers are monitoring the situation and exploring additional relief efforts; however, to say the transition is challenging is still downplaying the reality of what the community is facing.
Even though Democratic leaders are pushing back against DOGE’s federal job cuts, warning of serious economic consequences. In response, state lawmakers have formed an emergency committee to assess the impact and explore solutions.
House Speaker Don Scott (D-Portsmouth) criticized the cuts, calling them a "preventable crisis,” pointing out that despite efforts from the state’s new job resource website, there are so many people being fired at this time and a lack of suitable listings that would match with their suitable skills.
Old Dominion Has Plenty of Federal Workers
According to the U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM), Virginia has the third most federal workers in the country, with over 152,360 employees holding positions.
Besides Dollar Tree and Hilton, the federal government is the largest employer in the state, which is why the Virginia Has Jobs initiative is so important.
The mix of longstanding government roles and strong military communities creates the perfect conditions for federal work throughout Virginia.
Maryland Legislation Helping its Residents
Helping your residents get back on their feet is exactly the kind of resource states can implement that helps individuals and society through empowerment.
Virginia is clearly on board but they’re not the only one as Maryland is also helping affected federal workers with a similar website of its own.
The ties between the two states through federal job opportunities are strong as many residents commute to D.C. or Maryland or work remotely for facilities in the Free State.
It’s worth noting that the new Hampton Roads Workplace Council is looking to help but may need a bit more time to do so effectively, as many listings on its workforce board appear outdated as of this writing.
Virginia Works: Jobs & Resources for Those Affected
As the Commonwealth’s workforce development agency, Virginia Works provides resources to support your job search, offering everything from virtual hiring events to unemployment assistance to career coaching and more online.
Furthermore, visitors can explore Virginia’s community college programs offering financial assistance for career training.
It doesn't matter where you are in your career, getting laid off is never a great experience. Fortunately, the tools and resources Virginia Works is providing affected federal workers can help with support, technical skills, assistance with unemployment, and of course, finding the next step in your career.
Nevertheless, the website isn’t the only thing Virginia is doing to help. A bill is in the works from the state’s General Assembly to extend foreclosures from 30 days to 60 days if the homeowner or tenant was part of federal cuts.
Finally, legislation that would increase weekly unemployment by $100 for affected workers is also being worked. Youngkin still needs to sign both bills as of this writing.
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