It will also have a virtual career fair starting this Wednesday that will last all month long.
Current list of dates:
McAlester Expo Center, May 10
Enid Stride Bank Center, May 12
Lawton Hilton Garden Inn, May 14
Oklahoma City Convention Center, May 17-18
Virtual, May 5-28
According to the OESC, about 100,000 people across the state are still receiving unemployment benefits. Executive Director Shelley Zumwalt hopes these fairs will help these claimants find jobs. How do we reimagine the next phase, for the state and our agency and the workforce in Oklahoma? What does that look like? How can we play a vital part? How can we encourage people who are currently receiving benefits to take that next step and find avenues of re-training or re-employment? said Zumwalt.
The agency began an 18-month digital transformation in September of last year.
Officials said all payments and claims are being processed manually through a 40-year-old piece of equipment that breaks down daily. It is a piece of technology Executive Director Shelley Zumwalt said could have been replaced 20 years ago and is ready for retirement.
The OESC is also constantly receiving complaints about fraudulent claims. Zumwalt said they are now requiring people to verify their identity digitally before filing a claim and renew that verification every 90 days.
The agency is also using a $1.2 million grant to enlist outside help. The OESC said it has decreased fraud by over 40% and offers a help hotline with a wait time of fewer than 10 minutes.
OESC pausing distribution of remaining LWA funding pending federal legislation, officials say Share Updated: 1:35 PM CST Dec 17, 2020 KOCO Staff Share Updated: 1:35 PM CST Dec 17, 2020
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Show Transcript IT’S REALLY DISAPPOINTING. PORSHA: WHEN KAREN AND RONNIE WHITE FOUND OUT THE EXTRA MONEY THEY WERE SET TO RECEIVE FROM THE OKLAHOMA EMPLOYMENT SECURITY COMMISSION WAS NO LONGER ON THE WAY, THEIR HEARTS SANK, SELLING THEIR VAN TO BUY GROCERIES NOW EVEN MORE STRESSED, WORRIED ABOUT BILLS AND CHRISTMAS PRESENTS FOR THEIR KIDS. WE HAVE TO PAY OUR ELECTRIC BILL AND IT COULD BE CUT OFF AT ANY MOMENT. WE WE’RE GONNA USE THAT MONEY TO PAY THAT AND USE THE REST OF THAT MANY TO LITERALLY SPEND ON OUR KIDS FOR CHRISTMAS AND CHRISTMAS DINNER SO I DON’T REALLY KNOW WHAT WE’RE GONNA DO NOW. PORSHA: OESC EXPLAINING, SAYING THEY WERE GIVEN THE GREEN LIGHT FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF LABOR TO DELIVER THE REMAINING LOST WAGES ASSIST