CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas — Business after business has closed -- whether temporarily or permanently -- because of COVID-19, but, if you're looking for a job, there are plenty of positions open.
Workforce Solutions of the Coastal Bend said unemployment has increased 5.9 percent across the 11-county region it serves. Although the unemployment rate is higher, there are still thousands of job positions across the Coastal Bend needing to be filled.
Workforce Solutions of the Coastal Bend Communications Coordinator Monika De La Garza said the first thing someone should do after being laid off is file for unemployment.
"Your unemployment starts from the day you were laid off," she said. "Not from when you filed, so that’s some good news for some people."
While you continue your job search, you may notice a large amount of positions that are available in essential industries.
WorkInTexas.com has over 5,105 job positions available in the Coastal Bend, and Workforce Solutions also has its own job platform for job searches: Jobs Start Here!
De La Garza said there are four big industries that make up the current local workforce.
"We’ve got healthcare, we’ve got food service, retail sales and transportation," she said.
Employees are need to fill jobs such as nurses, restaurant cooks, restaurant supervisors and retail associates.
Surprisingly enough, transportation has become an even bigger industry despite being under stay-at-home orders.
"I mean just think about it, we’re ordering our groceries, we’re ordering anything online," De La Garza said. "So the delivery drivers are out there, and they’re in demand and very much in-need as in essential workers."
For people looking to get into the transportation industry, Del Mar College Director of Transportation Services John Rojas said now is the time to be searching.
He said he already has received calls from employers asking about current students.
"Even while we’ve been off for these last 30 days or so, we’ve had employers contact us and wanting to know when our graduates are going to be completed," Rojas said.
Through the Del Mar College Transportation Training program, you can earn your CDL license in just four weeks. The only requirements: have a valid Texas driver's license; be at least 18 years old; have no more than three moving violations in the past 3 years on their driving record; and they must pass a drug screening.
For other transportation jobs, and other open positions, you can check back to the WorkInTexas.com website.
According to WorkInTexas.com, the top job positions for the week of April 20, include opportunities in Beeville, Alice and Corpus Christi.
CORPUS CHRISTI
Heavy equipment mechanic (full-time, days)
Job No: 13832953
Salary: $22
Education: high school or GED
Experience: Two years’ prior experience
Requirements: Have your own basic tools required; Class C-Texas Standard Driver’s License
Teacher (full-time, days)
Job No.: 14057193
Salary: $50,155 (plus $1,000 stipend for a master’s degree)
Education: Bachelor’s degree required; Master‘s degree desired
Requirements: Must be certified by State of Texas to teach in subject area assigned. Make lesson plans, keep recorded of daily attendance, instruct classes in subject area, and accept related assignments.
Construction superintendent (full-time, days)
Job No.: 14058098
Salary: $30-$50 an hour
Education: high school or GED
Experience: Five prior years’ experience required
Requirements/job description: directly supervise and coordinate activities of construction project; Class C-Texas Standard Driver’s License required.
ALICE
Safety and risk supervisor (not listed)
Job No.: 14058487
Salary: based on experience
Education: Bachelor’s degree in business or public administration with accounting, insurance or risk management emphasis required
Experience: Two years’ previous experience required
Requirements/job description: professional designation of Association of Risk Management (ARM or Underwriter or Chartered Property Casualty (CPCU) required; direct and manage risk management operations.
BEEVILLE
Maintenance and repair worker (not listed)
Job No.: 14058652
Salary: based on experience
Education: high school or GED
Experience: Two years’ prior experience
Requirements/job description: perform minor carpentry, plumbing and electrical, tape float and paint work. Routine maintenance of apartments. Class C-Texas Standard Driver’s License required.
Workforce Solutions also provides virtual help.
Career Telecenter Hours:
8am - 5pm Monday through Friday
Call or Text: 361-882-7481
Email: info@workforcesolutionscb.org
