Are you seeking to re-enter the workforce or gain new skills to enhance your career prospects in New Jersey? The Opportunity Partnership program is designed to provide eligible individuals with industry-specific job readiness training, equipping them with the practical skills needed to secure employment. This initiative focuses on delivering hands-on training in various occupational and credential areas, offering a valuable opportunity to learn a new trade and successfully transition into a new job.
To determine if you qualify for the Opportunity Partnership program and begin your journey towards reemployment, certain eligibility criteria must be met. Firstly, it is essential that you are legally authorized to work within the United States. Beyond this foundational requirement, enrollment is contingent upon engagement with approved career counseling services. Specifically, you must be actively receiving employment counseling and formally apply for training services through your local One-Stop Career Center. It’s important to note that self-enrollment is not permitted before receiving approval from these designated job counselors.
Further eligibility is defined by your recent employment history and circumstances. The program is open to individuals who have experienced job loss through various situations. This includes those who have been terminated or laid off from their previous employment, as well as individuals currently eligible for unemployment insurance benefits, or those who have exhausted these benefits within the preceding 52 weeks. Eligibility also extends to those who have lost employment due to permanent closures or significant layoffs at a plant, facility, or enterprise. Moreover, individuals who were self-employed and are now unemployed due to adverse economic conditions or natural disasters are also encouraged to apply.
The Opportunity Partnership program also recognizes the unique challenges faced by specific populations. Displaced homemakers, defined as individuals previously dependent on a family member’s income and no longer receiving that support, are eligible. Furthermore, non-retiree military service members who have been honorably discharged or released, or those with impending separation notices (within 180 days), can participate. Spouses of active duty military personnel who are unemployed or underemployed and are seeking to improve their employment situation also qualify. This extends to dependent spouses of active duty service members whose family income has been significantly impacted by deployment, active duty orders, or service-connected death or disability.
Upon acceptance into a specialized industry training program, participants will have the opportunity to engage with potential employers. Depending on the complexity of the skills being acquired, participants may be able to interview and arrange employment opportunities during their training period. The duration of these training programs can vary, tailored to the specific industry and skill sets being developed. For more detailed information and to begin your application process, please visit nj.gov/labor/career-services/tools-support/reemployment/index.shtml.
