Labor’s TAA program helps laid-off workers segue to employment opportunities

IDAHO FALLS, Idaho (KIFI) - Employee layoffs are common when a U.S. company offshores some of its production or is sold to an international firm that does similar work in a foreign country.

James Black experienced a job loss when his employer closed a large section of its manufacturing division in 2013. The jobs and a portion of the production of articles and supply of services shifted to a foreign country. Through the federally funded Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA) program, Black and other affected coworkers have access to reemployment benefits.

Under this program, a worker may seek a one-time training opportunity for as long as the TAA program has funding. For Black, he took advantage of the training opportunity in 2020, completing his program in 2022.

Today, Black couldn’t imagine being anywhere else in his career other than working for the Idaho Department of Transportation as an IT Operations and Support Analyst I. With the help of TAA staff at the Idaho Department of Labor, Black decided to enroll in the Information Technology Systems program at Idaho State University seven years after his layoff to learn more about computers and increase his chances of employment in the industry.

“I am very thankful for the opportunity the TAA program provided me to transition from my old industry into a new one,” Black said. “I couldn’t have made it to the top of the mountain without it.”

Another worker in Idaho, Jesus Cabrera, was also eligible for reemployment assistance after he was laid off in 2019. Because of this, Cabrera chose to pursue a new career as an electrician. The TAA program paid for his tuition and books to attend the Electrical Apprenticeship at the College of Western Idaho.

“I’m about to finish my four-year apprenticeship, and I signed up to take my journeyman-level training next month. Thanks to this opportunity, my wages have increased. I’m making more than I did two to three years ago,” Cabrera said.

Like Black and Cabrera, there are many workers across the state who may still be eligible for training benefits due to layoffs. The training benefits help workers find a job at a skill level similar to or higher than their trade-affected employment.

Employees who were laid off through no fault of their own between 2001 and June 30, 2022, and worked for a company that had an approved TAA petition, may be eligible for TAA training benefits. Contact a Labor office for more information.