COLUMBUS, Ohio -- December unemployment numbers for Ohio were not positive and experts say training for your next job is key.
Several days a week, Job Leaders near downtown Columbus is packed with job seekers, NBC 4's Mikaela Hunt reported.
"When you first find out that you're not going to have a job, all kinds of emotions come. It's like experiencing a loss," said Suzanne Coleman-Tolbert, President and CEO of Job Leaders.
In the midst of that troubled time, Job Leaders is most likely a top tier service that job seekers will want to know about.
The organization sees approximately 140 customers a day and they have more jobs than that available.
It's a one-stop shop for people looking for a job or just looking to re-train -- at no cost.
"You don't have to be unemployed to use our service. If you're in a dead-end field, you can talk to one of our career planners," Tolbert said.
Customers are given a booklet as they enter the office to let planners know their capabilities immediately.
Once in the system, customers can come back at any time and log in with a personalized card.
The system explains to those customers what kinds of resources are available, along with training opportunities.
Heavyweight corporations announced thousands of job cuts Monday and a new report by the National Association for Business Economics predicts that companies will significantly reduce their staff within the next six months.
One of the companies that announced layoffs -- Sprint Nextel -- has 17 stores in Central Ohio. But the company does not know which 8,000 jobs will be cut around the nation -- or how many will be from Ohio, NBC 4's Mikaela Hunt reported.
Home Depot will cut 7,000 jobs, but for now, Ohio remains untouched.
Bill Lafayette, an economist at the Columbus Chamber, said the announcement made Monday that could affect Central Ohio the most was General Motors' 2,000 job cuts in Michigan and Ohio.
GM officials said that specifically in Ohio, 800 jobs will be gone at the Lordstown plant on April 6.
With those losses, local businesses could feel the effects.
"Some of the parts manufacturers in our region support GM and the other big three," Lafayette said.
In other jobs news, Mix 97.1 FM laid off workers Monday.
The company has decided to simulcast its AM sports station on the FM station, citing a need for a stronger radio signal for their work.
In an economy that's very uncertain, jobs experts said workers should be prepared to train for their next career -- one that's growing.
"I think (job seekers should look) in such areas as healthcare, transportation, information technology, the biosciences, retail -- any area they want to go into. It's time to go back to school," Tolbert said.
Fore more information, visit www.centralohioworkforce.org, ohiomeansjobs.com or jfs.ohio.gov/ocomm_root/unempresources.stm.
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