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Colorado Programs Help Fund Employee Positions |
Martha Garcia | 3/16/10
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Southwest Colorado Workforce Centers have several programs designed to assist businesses locate and hire skilled workers and at the same time offset some of the costs of recruiting, hiring and retaining new employees. These programs can provide either temporary direct funding or wage reimbursements while an employee is being trained. Please review the programs listed below to see which best fits your business.
On-the-Job Training (OJT)
On-the-Job Training is designed to provide skills to an individual job seeker, necessary for employment in a specific position. OJT is provided to an individual who has some of the skills required for the position, but not all. The training is provided by the employer to newly hired individuals and is based on an evaluation of the individual’s skill level in comparison with the job requirements.
 During the training period, the state reimburses the employer up to 50 percent of the trainee’s wages for the extraordinary costs of doing the training. If the On-the-Job Training is completed successfully, the company retains the individual as an employee. In some cases, the OJT can be linked with appropriate educational programs or other training.
Paid Internship
Internships are limited duration work assignments in which individuals with some background and qualifications in an occupational area can be placed directly into positions in a company which best fit that person’s skill areas.
During the internship, the person’s wages are paid directly to the individual by the state. Additionally, worker’s compensation and unemployment insurance fees are also funded for during the period of the internship. Interns are paid at the prevailing wage rate for the specific position, up to a maximum of roughly $5,000 per person. This program is designed to reduce labor costs to employers, evaluate potential employees prior to actual hiring and increase the skill levels of individual job seekers. There is no requirement for the company to retain the individual as an employee at the completion of the internship.
In both on-the-job training and paid internships, employers can interview prospective candidates prior to the commencement of the specific program and select the candidate which best fits the position, work environment and corporate culture.
If your company is interested in either of these programs, please contact Martha Garcia, Labor & Employment Specialist, The Durango Workforce Center at 970-247-9308. An Employment Specialist can explain our services in more detail and help you decide what program may work best for you. |
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