With countywide unemployment already hovering around 7 percent, a release from the Bureau of Labor and Statistics will do little to instill hope for those residents who are currently looking for work.
New data shows that Pennsylvania lost nearly 16,000 jobs during the month of September, and as it currently stands, nearly 30,000 residents across Montgomery County are looking for work.
To combat the unemployment epidemic, a new county-based initiative called MontcoWorks aims to aid job seekers in their quest for gainful employment.
Find out what's happening in Perkiomen Valleyfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
MontcoWorks
The Montgomery County Economic and Workforce Development Office (MontcoWorks) now offers crucial resources and workshops to help county residents find work.
Find out what's happening in Perkiomen Valleyfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
At the heart of the effort is CareerLink--a state-sponsored resource, which has been broken down to the county level.
"The Montgomery County CareerLink offers job search counseling, skills assessment programs, GED courses, information on training programs, and workshops on many subjects, including resume writing and interview skills," reads a statement on the website, which bills itself as a "one-stop location for all of your employment needs."
In addition to the list of available workshops and classes, the MontcoWorks site boasts a comprehensive breakdown of the local economy, including current economic conditions, industry snapshots and typical occupational wages.
For those job seekers who prefer face-to-face contact, they can find the same resources in person at the office of Economic and Workforce Development, located on the fifth floor 1430 DeKalb St. in Norristown, with hours of operation listed as 8:30 a.m. to 4:15 p.m., Monday through Friday.