Phil Castle, The Business Times

Tabi Britt hopes to change any perceptions of the Mesa County Workforce Center as a last stop for employers looking to fill vacancies or, for that matter, people looking for jobs.

“I’d love to have them see us as their first stop,” says Britt, the new employment services supervisor at the center.

The Grand Junction center also offers one stop, she says, for a range of resources to help employers and prospective employees. That includes help with everything from hiring events and skills assessments to job searches and interviewing techniques. That also includes referrals to other resources for job hunters, including assistance with food and child care.

The objective, Britt says, is take a holistic approach that meets the needs of employers, individuals and the community.

Britt started her new role in May, succeeding Celina Kirnberger. She’s worked two years at the Mesa County Workforce Center, previously as a youth employment specialist.

She also brings to her duties an education and experience in social work. She received a bachelor’s degree in social work from Colorado State University in Fort Collins.

Britt says she leads and supports a team of seven that delivers a variety of services to employers, job seekers and community partners.

Those services are important, she says, in fostering mutually beneficial relationships between employers and employees and promoting a prosperous community. Moreover, jobs and the paychecks that come with them exert profound effects on an individual level.  “It’s life-changing.”

For businesses looking for employees, the center hosts job fairs and other hiring events and also can help write job descriptions and screen applicants. Additional assistance is available with on-the-job training and internships.

For those seeking employment, the center offers help with job searches, resumes and interviews. Help  — and funding — also is available in earning commercial drivers licenses and nursing assistant certifications.

Britt says services are available to anyone looking for jobs, from those just entering the work force to those with experience and graduate degrees. The same goes for occupations and industry sectors, she says. “We really do help anyone.”

The Mesa County labor market has stabilized in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic, she says. While the low unemployment rate means a greater proportion of people are working, it also makes it more challenging for businesses to hire and retain staff.

For April, the latest month for which estimates are available, the seasonally unadjusted unemployment rate retreated a half point to 2.6 percent. That’s the lowest level since the rate fell to 2.5 percent in September 2019, the rock bottom in Mesa County for county level statistics in Colorado going back to 1990.

To vie for new hires, employers must offer not only competitive wages, but also attractive benefits, Britt says. Some prospective employees are looking for flexibility, including remote work.

Some businesses have joined in collaborations to exchange services and offer discounts as benefits, she says.

Other businesses have worked to fill their own work force pipelines through internships and one-the-job training. The center offers funding to reduce risk, Britt says.

Job hunters also face challenges, though, in bringing the right qualifications and skills to a position, she says. The center offers skills assessments and issues National Career Readiness Certificates to those who demonstrate proficiency.

The accessibility and affordability of child care and housing remain other obstacles, she says.

Mesa County holds an advantage, though, in attracting job applicants from across Colorado who come to the Grand Valley to enjoy outdoor recreation and the quality of life, Britt says.

Meanwhile, Britt says the team at the Mesa County Workforce Center works hard to help employers fill vacancies and people find jobs. In fact, the center should be their first stop.

The Mesa County Workforce Center is located at 512 29 1/2 Road in Grand Junction. For more information about employment services, call (970) 248-7560, email jobservice@mesacounty.us or log on to https://mcwfc.us.