Now hiring: Get a job helping Pennsylvania’s jobless, expediting unemployment payments

Pennsylvanians looking for work during the pandemic-spurred shutdown now have the option to get a job helping the jobless.

The state Department of Labor and Industry is hiring a slew of workers to respond to an unprecedented surge in unemployment claims in recent weeks.

Applications can be submitted starting Monday from Allegheny County residents interested in taking on temporary positions as intake interviewers for the state’s unemployment call centers. Similar workers also are needed in Erie, Berks, Blair, Indiana, Dauphin and Lackawanna counties.

“The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania has a critical need for additional employees to serve in the unemployment compensation call center,” the state’s job post states. “Given today’s current environment, the need for this work has significantly increased.

“We are looking to hire a large number of candidates to do this work immediately. Experience the satisfaction of public service by helping members of your community obtain unemployment benefits!”

? WE ARE HIRING!

☎️ Our Unemployment Compensation (UC) call center is in need of UC Claims Intermittent Intake Interviewers.

?Location: Berks, Blair, Indiana, Dauphin, Lackawanna, Allegheny, Erie

Apply today ⤵️https://t.co/isW3KQOF99 pic.twitter.com/G1FILkTvpu

— PA Department of Labor & Industry (@PALaborIndustry) April 9, 2020

The temporary call center jobs pay $17.73 to $26.45 per hour at full-time employment, which is 37.5 hours per week. Schedules could include 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. with 30-minute lunch break, and could include weekends.

New hires will initially work from home, but may be required to transition to an office setting at the state’s service center in Duquesne, according to the job post.

“These positions often lead to higher-level, permanent careers in the UC office,” the post states.

Requirements include Pennsylvania residency and at least one of the following: two years’ experience of general office work, including a year interviewing members of the public; an associate’s degree; or “an equivalent combination of experience and training that includes one year of general office work involving interviewing the public,” according to the job post.

Preference may be given to applicants who are military veterans.

Applications cannot be submitted through the online system until 9 a.m. Monday and will continue to be accepted through Friday, April 17.

Jobless claims surge nationwide

The shutdown that aims to thwart the spread of covid-19 has spurred many companies as well as some local governments to turn to layoffs, pay cuts and reductions in hours.

More than 1.1 million Pennsylvanians filed for full or partial unemployment benefits from the start of the statewide shutdown in mid-March through Monday, state data show.

Nationwide, more than one in 10 workers have lost their jobs in the past three weeks, with 8 million Americans filing for unemployment assistance, federal data show.

Estimates suggest the U.S. unemployment rate could hit 15% when April data gets released in early May.

Officials encourage Pennsylvanians seeking unemployment compensation to file claims online and review the resources available on the department’s website to get faster service, such as a live chat feature.

Emails are answered in the order they are received, with an 11-day backlog as of earlier this week.