One Stop Career Centers (Workforce Development Centers) 

---

NOTE: Glossary words are highlighted. Click on any glossary word to see its definition.

Description:

One Stop Career Centers are a statewide network of centers that provide employment, education, and training services to individuals in a single location. These Centers include programs such as Unemployment Insurance, Job Services, Vocational Education, Vocational Rehabilitation, and Youth Services through a partnership with local, state, and national organizations. Most One Stop Centers provide tiers of services: Core Services, Intensive Services, and Training Services.

Core Services: These services help individuals with job searches and provide placement assistance. Services include:

• Career counseling.
• Labor market information.
• Initial assessment of skills and needs.
• Information about available services.
• Follow-up services for those who have been placed in jobs.
• Self-access and informational services available in resource rooms or online.

Intensive Services: More specialized than Core Services and may include:

• Comprehensive assessment.
• Individual counseling and career planning.
• Case management.
• Group career workshops.
• Follow-up services.

Training Services: In this service, you will first create a training plan through an individual Training Account that is approved by the New Mexico Department of Workforce Solutions (NMDWS). You can then choose from a statewide list of eligible institutions that provide the training you require. Offered training services include:

• Basic skills training (including GED operation).
• Occupational skills training.
• On-the-job training.
• Customized training.
• Combined workplace and classroom training.
• Skills upgrading and retraining.
• Entrepreneurial training.
• Readiness training.

General eligibility:

To be eligible for Core Services:

• You must be legally able to work in the U.S.

To be eligible for Intensive Services:

• You must not be able to find work using Core Services alone.
• You must be in need of more specialized services in order to find or keep a job.

To be eligible for Training Services:

• You must be eligible for Intensive Services.
• You must demonstrate or are assessed as being unable to find or retrain a job through Intensive Services alone. 

Benefits:

Waiver of job search requirements: If you are enrolled in an academic or training program approved by the NMDWS, you will not have to look for work while you collect your UI benefits. However, the NMDWS will check to make sure that you enroll and attend classes for your job training program.

Extension of benefits: If your job training or academic program will last beyond the last week of your UI benefits, you can apply for extended benefits.

NOTE: The NMDWS does not pay for your training. It only waives the work search requirement and offers extended UI benefits while you are in the program. If you need financial help, check with a job specialist at your local One-Stop Career Center. You may be eligible for the state Individual Training Account (ITA) funding. You may also qualify for a scholarship, grant, or loan from your training program or another source.

Financial eligibility:

There are no financial requirements for this program. 

How to apply:

Once you decide that you need help finding work or job training, you may contact the closest One Stop Center (See the Workforce Development Centers Location and Telephone Numbers on the NMDWS E-Claims System website). A job specialist at your One Stop Center can help you.