Jewish Federation
12 Millstone Campus Drive
Saint Louis, MO 63146
Community Responds to Rising Jewish Unemployment
Evidence of Jewish unemployment has increased as more St. Louisans lose jobs to economy-driven
cutbacks. The MERS/Goodwill Careers in Transition Program, which is funded by Jewish Federation of
St. Louis, reports a 78% increase in Jewish clients. These are people recently laid off who are coming
for job leads, career counseling, resume preparation, interviewing techniques, testing and career
exploration.
As Federation-funded programs (such as Careers in Transition) respond to dramatic increases in needs and clientele, they are stretching their own staff and financial resources to the limit - with no end in
sight. “The number of unem-ployed Jewish community members seeking our employment services has,
in-credibly, doubled in the last few months of 2008, said Johni Siegel, Careers in Transition program
director. “It is taking longer to schedule an appointment with us, but every effort is made to see a new
client within 10 days of initial contact.”
Siegel added that the economy is particularly affecting those 50 and older; people who work out of
financial necessity, rather than for personal fulfillment. Siegel also reported another significant shift in
the demographics of her clients. “Some 90% of the program’s new clients are ‘professionals’ or‘managers.’
Layoffs are leaving many employees and their families living on the edge for the first time in their lives – unable to make rent, mortgage payments or food. Now many are turning to the Jewish community for food, financial assistance, coun-seling, and employment services for themselves and their families. “It’s Federa-tion’s Annual Campaign that supports the agencies, programs and services in our community that are serving people on a daily basis. But right now, our com-munity needs more,” said Barry Rosenberg, Federation executive vice president. To meet emergency needs of Jews who are in immediate distress, Federation’s $500,000 Lifeline Fund is offering financial assistance and loans, administered by Jewish Family & Children’s Service. Some 2008 statistics reported by Feder-ation-funded Jewish agencies:
? 78% increase in employment counseling requests at MERS/Missouri
Goodwill (314-647-5533 ext. 115)
? 61% increase in Harvey Kornblum Jewish Food Pantry clients
? 47% increase in requests for financial assistance and loans through the
Jewish Loan Association
? 22% increase in clients seeking counseling at JF&CS
“The kind of help needed for the unemployed has changed, as well. The empha-sis in career counseling is
to identify the individual's skills and interests and develop a plan for transferring them to a new
career/vocational field if neces-sary. It also may be necessary to formulate two employment plans: one
to satisfy immediate needs and another long range goal,” Siegel added.
“If you help those in need and build self-reliance in people,” said Siegel, “every-body grows. It’s the essence of what we do; the essence of what Federation agencies are all about. Lives can be changed by personal interest and attention.”
Here’s the story of one client who sought help at Federation-supported Careers in Transition. Brad C (not his real name) worked for a medical supply company. His company was bought out and he was laid off. He went from having a steady income to living off the money he'd saved to buy a house. He went job hunting, posting his resume online and responding to hundreds of job openings. He also visited the Career Center on www.jewishinstlouis.org. That’s where he read about the MERS/Missouri Goodwill Careers in Transition and contacted Siegel.
The program has helped him with resume writing, interviewing techniques and honing new skills. Brad’s a good candidate but many employers tell him they're under a hiring freeze right now. Brad knows he can't give up and keeps pur-suing work with invaluable help from MERS job counselors.
Jewish Federation of St. Louis is the central community-building, fund-raising and planning address for the 60,000-member Jewish community of St. Louis. Founded in 1901, it is one of the area’s oldest and largest non-profit organizations.The Federation distributes funds to a family of 25 local, 20 national and three international agencies, programs and services to feed the hungry, educate people of all ages, care for young and old, fight anti-Semitism, promote Jewish culture and heritage and support Jews in Israel and around the world.
