what can be done to minimize unemployment in my community?

Provided below are resources to help navigate job uncertainty and economic stress, access and utilize financial services, and learn more about education and training options.

navigating Employment uncertainty

If experiencing employment uncertainty or sudden changes to employment or income, here are 5 steps to be taken:

    • Are there available severance benefits from the job you are leaving?

    • Seek compensation for unused vacation or sick days

    • Apply for unemployment benefits through the Department of Labor as soon as possible

    • If unsure about your eligibility, contact your state’s unemployment office

    • Seek temporary part-time employment

    • Cut easy, unnecessary expenses

      • Ensure you are no longer being charged for services or memberships you don’t use

      • Review cable, internet, and subscription services

    • Revise bigger expenses

      • If necessary, contact a landlord about possible reduced or deferred payment

      • Move in with friends, family, or a roommate temporarily

      • If you have debt, loans, or a credit card, contact your lender to learn more about loan forbearance or interest rate reductions

    • Learn about your state’s tax laws to see what you may or may not owe with unemployment status 

    • Apply to have taxes withheld when applying for benefits by filing a Voluntary Withholding form through your state’s unemployment office

    • Update your resume and post it to job search platforms as soon as possible 

    • Reach out to personal contacts/connections who may be seeking employees 

      • Friends, family, colleagues, past co-workers or supervisors 

    • Join professional networks or associations in your field to stay current and make new contacts 

    • Review resources provided by the Department of Labor for job seekers 

    • Remember the value of taking breaks, relaxing, and leaving time for your personal life 

    • Take this time to spend more time outside, visit with family or friends, or develop new skills or hobbies

** Note that each employer has different benefits and policies, so you should always refer to an employee handbook or specific HR policies**

navigating economic stress

management strategies

According to Brown University, economic stress can be managed by:

  • One-on-one financial counseling 

  • Attending seminars or workshops on money management or managing loans 

  • Online financial education 

  • Prioritizing a plan 

  • Communication

  • Changing your focus 

  • Thinking positively 

budgeting resources

Visit Quicken.com or Mint.com for subscription online budgeting tools

Visit Money Under 30 to learn how to budget on your own free of cost

accessing financial services and institutions

If seeking general financial support services, view the following resources:

Pan Foundation Grants - Independent and Nation 5013C Charitable Organization and Healthcare Advocacy Organization provides financial assistance for treatment costs, advocates for policy on expanding healthcare access, and provides education on complex financial topics.

Pan Foundation Grants Instructions: Open tool > to learn more about how to prepare for application or how to apply, scroll down and click PAN Portal OR click the purple button to read our step by step guide to applying in the portal > If you are ready to apply for a grant, click find a fund and check eligibility OR apply online 24/7

If seeking financial support services in the case of a natural disaster or emergency, view the following resources:

South Carolina Emergency Management Department aims to facilitate the post-disaster recovery of communities. SCEMD provides information about and access to:

  • Assistance for hurricane survivors

  • Disaster assistance fact sheets

  • Applying for disaster assistance

  • FEMA helpline

  • Other recovery resources

Contact Disaster Assistance - FEMA Helpline if you have questions about the services offered by FEMA, how to apply for assistance, or information in your account.

CALL: 1-800-621-3362 from 7am - 11pm (available 7 days a week)

WRITE TO:

FEMA

PO Box 10055

Hyattsville, MD 20782-8055

VISIT: DisasterAssistance.gov to submit general questions or comments, access more help centers and helplines, and find important contacts

VISIT: FEMA.gov for information about small business assistance and disaster loans

The US Small Business Association provides information on disaster loans, an interactive Recovery Center Locator Map, and access to disaster loan applications.

Small Business Association (SBA) Recovery Centers are accessible facilities and mobile offices where you can learn more about SBA and disaster assistance programs. An SBA Recovery Center may help you:

  • Learn about disaster assistance programs

  • Answer questions or determine your eligibility

  • Provide support in applying for disaster assistance

  • Receive referrals to agencies that may offer additional assistance

SBA Instructions: Open tool > click Find an SBA Recovery Center > search by location > insert your address, city, or state > if available in your area, click on the blue and white marker closest to you location > view the Recovery Center’s address, hours of operation, or click Find Available Appointment to make an appointment

Visit WeForum.org to learn more about the growing threat climate hazards pose on businesses and societies, past impacts of climate hazards, and reevaluating climate resilience.

financial literacy & education resources

If seeking further education, view the following resources:

If you are 18+ and have less education than a high school diploma, you are eligible to take the GED test - a high school equivalency certificate.

  • Visit FinishYourDiploma.org to learn more about the benefits of the certificate, learn about accommodations, find study resources and locate your local adult education center.

  • Visit GED.com to sign up for classes, access study materials, and schedule your test.

If you are seeking a college education in your area, view the National Center for Educational Statistics College Finder Map.

  • View institutions offering from certificates through graduate degrees

  • Narrow your search based on location, interests, degree type, public vs private, and more

College Finder Map Instructions: Open tool > insert a desired major and/or desired location > click apply > narrow down the search by changing preferences in the find your college bar across the top of the page > click through the colored dots on the map to browse OR scroll through the results on the right side of the page > click school profile to learn more about each institution

​​The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics conducts an employment outlook for occupations requiring an associate degree, certificate, or some college education.

This resource searches for openings for post-secondary occupations that typically do not require a 4-year degree in 6 fields:

  • Computer and engineering

  • Education, legal, and office support

  • Healthcare support

  • Healthcare technical

  • Transportation and repair

  • Other

For more detailed information on each of these fields, view the Occupational Outlook Handbook.

Resources provided by the agencies, such as the Federal Trade Commission’s (FTC) Consumer.gov and the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau’s (CFPB) consumer complaint database, offer vital information on how to manage financial questions and submit complaints about financial products and services.

If you have a high school diploma, you can enroll in college courses. OnlineU provides information on the 2025 most affordable online associate degrees, based on tuition research, institutional accreditation, and offering 10+ degree options.

OnlineU Instructions: Open tool > scroll down to the table Most Affordable Schools for Online associate degrees > view programs by ranking, their location, and tuition > click on the name of the school to learn more about each specific program

If exploring employment options with limited education, view the following resources:

In 2024, The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics compiled a data table on education and training assignments by occupation. The data includes title of occupation, national employment matrix code, education needed, required years of work experience in the related field, and on-the-job training needed to obtain competency in the field.

Data table instructions: Open tool > start on the leftmost column of the table > locate desired occupation > within the corresponding row, view National Employment Matrix code, details about necessary education, experience, or training > click OOH Content for the desired occupation to find more related content in the Occupational Outlook Handbook.

additional financial resources:

Additionally, the FTC’s website, ReportFraud.ftc.gov, prompts consumers through a set of questions to report frauds and scams, and provides a customized set of next steps the consumer should take based on the nature of the incident.