Employment/Unemployment
There are some handy local resources available for job-seekers, including:
- Memphis Area Career Centers
Provide a variety of free job and career-related services at seven locations in Shelby County. Services include career counseling, job search assistance, skills training, and resume assistance. Can also assist in applying for federally-funded employment training programs.
1) Collierville Center
942 West Poplar Avenue
Collierville 38017
Orientation: Mon, Tue 9:00 am
Call 901-853-4752 Mon - Fri 8:00 am - 4:30 pm.
2) Downtown Career Center
444 North Main Street, 2nd floor
Memphis 38105
Orientation: Mon - Thu 8:30 am and 1:00 pm, 1st Sat at 9:00 am
Call 901-522-2240 Mon - Fri 8:00 am - 4:30 pm.
3) Poplar Career Center
1295 Poplar Avenue
Memphis 38104
Orientation: Mon, Tue and Thu 9:00 am
Call 901-543-7535 Mon - Fri 8:00 am - 4:30 pm.
4) Memphis Housing Authority Career Center
700 Adams Avenue
Memphis 38105
Orientation: Mon, Tue 9:00 am
Call 901-544-1385 Mon - Fri 8:00 am - 4:30 pm.
5) Mendenhall Career Center
5368 Mendenhall Mall
Memphis 38115
Orientation: Mon, Tue, Thu 9:00 am
Call 901-365-3205 Mon - Fri 8:00 am - 4:30 pm.
6) Meritan
4700 Poplar Avenue #400
Memphis 38117
Orientation: Wed, Thu 9:30 am
Job and career services at this location are provided for adults age 55 and older.
Call 766-0600 Mon - Fri 8:30 am - 4:30 pm.
7) Raleigh Career Center
2850 Austin Peay Highway
Memphis 38128
Orientation: Mon, Tue, Thu 9:00 am
Call 901-543-7842 Mon - Fri 8:00 am - 4:30 pm.
See website at www.memphiscareercenter.com/services.htm . Other related resources can be found on the state Department of Labor and Workforce Development page: www.state.tn.us/labor-wfd/mainseeker.html.
- Memphis Public Library & Information Center
Provides a variety of free job and career information services, including
1) JobLINC BUS (mobile unit with current job listings, job and career information, )
2) Job and Career Centers (special library collections of books and other materials, including information on resume-building, interviewing skills, careers, financial aid and scholarships)
3) JobLab (hands-on twice-monthly workshop for creating/updating resumes, online job searches and online job applications)
4) Online job and career resources (including online test-preparation software, links to job search sites and a job and career blog)
5) Free public access computers (for job-searching, updating resumes, etc.)
Call 2-1-1 for more information, or see www.memphislibrary.org/linc/joblinc and www.memphislibrary.org/ftsbc/Job/.
- Memphis Urban League - Department of Employment and Training
Provides skills training and job placement.
413 North Cleveland Street
Memphis 38104
Call 901-272-2491 Mon -Fri 8:30 am - 5:00 pm, or apply online at www.mphsurbanleague.org/registration_form.asp.
For general information: www.mphsurbanleague.org/index.php
According to the TN Department of Labor and Workforce Development,
"Unemployment insurance benefits provide income to individuals who have lost work through no fault of their own. The benefits are intended to partially offset the loss of wages while an unemployed worker searches for suitable work, or until his employer can recall him to work....
You do not have to be totally unemployed to receive unemployment insurance benefits. You may have eligibility if you still have a job, but your employer has temporarily reduced your hours of work, or if you have lost your regular job, but you have some work at which you earn less than your weekly benefit amount."
Residents of Fayette, Lauderdale, Shelby and Tipton counties must file in person at their local unemployment office (Mon - Fri 8:00 am - 4:30 pm).
In other TN counties, you can file online at www.tennesseeanytime.org/labor or call toll-free 877-813-0950 (Mon - Fri 8:00 am - 4:30 pm).
- TN Department of Labor and Workforce Development
www.tennesseeanytime.org/labor - click on the "Unemployment" link
Volunteering can help build skills, add to your resume and increase job contacts, as well as decrease the isolation that unemployment can bring.
- Volunteer Mid-South
Provides information about wide variety of one-time or on-going volunteer opportunities for individuals, families and groups in the greater Memphis area.
3181 Poplar Avenue #325
Memphis 38111
Call 901-523-2425 Mon - Fri 8:30 am - 4:30 pm or search the online volunteer opportunities database at www.volunteermidsouth.org/HomePage/index.php/home.html.