Mississippi Department of Labor

Breaking with tradition, Mississippi’s Department of Labor is actually named the Department of Employee Security. I found it interesting that the department is actually funded by the federal government. Under the Wagner-Peysner Act, the state legislature is given money to dispense at their discretion to the Unemployment Insurance division. Though a federal agency, the Mississippi Department of Employee Security provides an array of services for Mississippi residents. They strive to enhance economic development and growth by promoting the labor market and employment opportunities to workers and employers alike.

They accomplish these goals primarily with the use of the WIN job centers. WIN job centers are the cornerstone of the department’s efforts to generate jobs and provide a starting point for any would be employee in the state. The centers are a one-stop shop for any citizen ready to enter the labor force. They incorporate job seeking services, as well as educational opportunities for not just employees, but employers as well. Additionally, they provide unemployment payment services to workers who find themselves temporarily out of work.

The WIN job centers also provide veterans services. These features are designed to help veterans get preference in employment, and training services, including counseling, referrals, and job placement. Representatives for the veterans work hard for veteran rights, and also offer veteran rehabilitation.
The department of Employee Services also provides employees with the prevailing wage information, as well as on-the-job employee training. They have several job placement programs, and offer to assist migrant workers with the documentation needed to work within the United States.

Finally, the Department of Employee Services provides all types of statistical information about the Labor Market. The Labor Market Information division reports on employment and unemployment figures, average wages, the population, income and other occupational variables. The DES uses this information to craft new programs to meet the changing needs of the state.