PVJOBS

geles. More than 100 community-based organizations have partnered with PVJOBS to refer disadvantaged individuals to the job program. Once these individuals visit PVJOBS, their profiles are stored in a database so they can be notified about upcoming job training and career opportunities. PVJOBS assists job candidates in union entry preparation since most of their employment opportunities come from construction projects that are union affiliated. The Los Angeles/Orange Counties Building Trades Council and the Southwest Regional Council of Carpenters are working with PVJOBS in this effort. Paying union initiation fees and first month dues, special tools or clothing can be an employment barrier for some individuals. So PVJOBS makes supportive services available to help job candidates cover these costs. Since the goal of PVJOBS is to provide career-track employment opportunities, the job program is committed to supplying a minimum of 3000 hours of work to each worker. This is accomplished by re-referring PVJOBS workers to similar trade work once they have completed employment contracts or have been laid off. Also, construction companies often retain PVJOBS workers to work at other project assignments. To date, PVJOBS has filled more than 4,500 positions and have maintained a retention rate of 87%.