CARMARTHENSHIRE jobcentres says they will be supporting those who have recently been made redundant as they look for new work.

Carmarthenshire’s Jobcentre Plus centres in Ammanford, Carmarthen and Llanelli are supporting a number of people to get back into work with their work coaches helping to review skills and abilities, identifying barriers to starting or progressing in the world of work and providing specialist support to those aged 50 and over, or people with health conditions, to ensure they have opportunities.

There are also increased childcare payments for parents on Universal Credit.

Ammanford Jobcentre recently hosted ND Care and Support, who promoted their available vacancies and carried out interviews with six people, with four signing up. Four also signed up to the care provider at the Llanelli Jobcentre.

Carmarthen Jobcentre has been helping Hayden Dental look for full-time front of house/receptionist staff, as well as CK Supermarket find a part-time sales adviser and a full-time cook for the Fountain Inn.

Employees of Marelli Automotive suppliers in Llanelli from the town and the Amman Valley attended a day arranged on June 29 where Carmarthenshire DWP employer advisor team, Careers Wales and Communities for Work Providers were available to help them as they were being made redundant.

Some 12 employees were made redundant, with seven already having found other employment. The remaining five will continue to be supported.

A jobs fair was also help for those who were made redundant at Stradey Park Hotel, with local hospitality businesses offering employment opportunities and DWP and Careers Wales are, alongside the jobcentres, offering support to all affected.

There were jobs fairs held through the end of June in Ammanford, Pendine, Llanelli and Burry Port. 18 of the 60 who attended have been offered employment.

Fred Hatton, from Jobcentre Plus’ employer and partnership team in the South West Wales District team, said: “We are well into the summer and our employers in all sectors in Carmarthenshire are in the process of aiming to recruit to maximum numbers in order to cope with the demands of visitors and, of course, our local residents.

“Jobcentres are focussing on increasing the labour force to help businesses fill their vacancies so that those businesses thrive and contribute to the local and Welsh economy.

“Staff are linking up with employers, inviting them to come to our jobcentres to interview applicants, and to arrange any necessary pre-employment training.”

It is important to state that, the more prepared the applicants are, the more research carried out on the nature of the business, the more likely they are to be offered a job. Fred Hatton stated: “If jobseekers are unsure what to expect at interview, those who are benefit claimants should speak to their Work Coach in the Jobcentre, and others should contact Careers Wales.”

More people in the county are moving into employment (with a two per cent reduction on benefit claimants in Carmarthenshire compared to last year) and there are a range of jobs available in care work, administration, retail, hospitality and tourism, manufacturing, construction, land-based work and green energy among other sectors.