By: Las Vegas Now Staff
Mass layoffs are reasons why the unemployment rate in our state is at a 15 year high. Last month, unemployment hit 6.6-percent, meaning, nearly 95,000 people are out of a job.
Military veteran John Shober isn't letting the dwindling job market get the best of him. “I'm trying to get a job in the culinary field. I just got out of culinary training.”
But he needed a little help, so he stopped by the Foundation for an Independent Tomorrow, also known as FIT. “I never knew this existed, and I have been out since '06. I just heard about it recently, and I'm following up on it and see where it will take me.”
He's not the only one. Rows and rows of people are in the same situation, says FIT program director Jake McClelland. “People who are either out of work or who are employed at a job where they're not making a wage that's high enough to support a family without public assistance. We help find either a job or a better paying job.”
FIT relies on grants to keep helping people like Shober but not a lot of people know about FIT.
“I don't think there are a lot of people who know about services or about us. People are struggling on their own and not knowing where to turn when there's places like FIT,” said McClellan.
FIT also cross trains its clients. “The construction industry, we're seeing a lot of layoffs. A couple of months ago, our big one was people who are in the mortgage housing industry. People who were lenders are being laid off,” said McClellan.
Shober is using FIT to work on being the perfect fit someday at his dream job of running a kitchen at one the Strip properties.
“This program wants to help us, put in the right direction. A lot of other places it seems like you are just a number,” said Shober.
FIT is free, but you do have to reach some minimal requirements, like being 18-years-old or older, and an American citizen. For more on FIT and the requirements, click here.
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