By LINDA KELLETT

C-S-E News Staff

TOWN OF MINDEN — Job seekers who missed last week’s free jobs forum at the Minden Town Hall or would like to follow-up can still avail themselves of state Department of Labor services being offered under a new initiative to combat long-term unemployment.

They may have to drive a little farther to take advantage of help, however.

On Monday, employment specialists will be at the Johnstown Public Library on 38 South Market St. from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. to help the area’s long-term unemployed.

Steve Ryan, state Department of Labor Business Services manager in Albany, last week said, “What we’re trying to do is to mobilize our resources to come to areas of high unemployment. [The state’s] One-Stop [career centers] are spread all over. Instead of asking people in tough economic times with high gas prices to go there, we’re trying to mobilize our resources to come to the people.”

A labor department spokesperson noted labor specialists deployed to the sites “go out to people, talk about market trends, where the jobs are.”

They also help with resume writing, as all job seekers need to tailor resumes for specific jobs in today’s job market; and the specialists are also introducing their clients to social networking sites like LinkedIn.

The effort is part of a recently-announced initiative by Gov. Andrew Cuomo.

“It’s all about engaging our customers and getting them back into the workforce,” the spokesperson said, noting the labor specialists are also bringing information about jobs.

“There are over 100,000 jobs in the job bank right now,” he said.

Another piece of the puzzle is a hiring incentive for employers.

The spokesperson said the state has an on-the-job training problem. “With any new job, there’s a skills gap. We help the employers pay for the cost of training” with federal grant funding.

In order to reach the unemployed and to spread the word, the labor specialists are going to facilities that are providing room for the forums free of charge.

According to the spokesperson, Montgomery County’s unemployment rate is about 10.3 percent — higher than the roughly 9 percent statewide unemployment rate.

With over 550 invitations e-mailed to long-term unemployed residents in western Montgomery County and surrounding areas last week, it was noted about 40 people turned out for the employment assistance program.