HARRISBURG, Oct. 6, 2014 – Sen. Christine M. Tartaglione is urging the administration of Gov. Tom Corbett to finally take immediate action to improve Pennsylvania’s website for job seekers.

In a letter to state Department of Labor & Industry Secretary Julia Hearthway, the senator said the administration must stop importing postings from websites such as Craigslist to ensure salacious job “opportunities” like exotic dancers and casting couch openings are filtered out.

“It is critical that the department address the overarching problems with this site, so that individuals are able to find quality, family-sustaining jobs with ease,” Sen. Tartaglione wrote in her Oct. 2 letter. “As such, I am requesting the department develop and communicate a plan to improve the job component which includes encouraging or requiring all employers in the commonwealth to make use of this website.”

Tartaglione’s letter is here:

October 2, 2014

The Honorable Julia Hearthway

Secretary

Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry

1713 Labor & Industry Building

651 Boas Street

Harrisburg, PA 17120

 

Dear Secretary Hearthway:

The purpose of this letter is to discuss the Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry’s Job Gateway website.  On numerous occasions, my staff and I have communicated our concerns regarding the accessibility of the site and the quality of the jobs posted on it.  It is critical that the department address the overarching problems with this site, so that individuals are able to find quality, family-sustaining jobs with ease.  As such, I am requesting the department develop and communicate a plan to improve the job component which includes encouraging or requiring all employers in the commonwealth to make use of this website.

Currently, as you know, all unemployed persons in the commonwealth are required to register with and use Job Gateway in order to receive unemployment compensation benefits in the state.  Unfortunately, it is difficult to find legitimate employment through Job Gateway in its present form, as the site, as demonstrated by recent media accounts, is clouded with unverified positions from unregistered employers.  For this reason, I previously requested the department no longer post unregistered employers and unverified jobs on its site, and I asked the department to undertake efforts to increase the number of registered employers.  To address these issues, I would like to suggest that the department to stop including sites that are unprofessional in nature, such as Craig’s List, in the Job Spidering used by Job Gateway.  Only websites that are strictly designed for employment purposes, and that offer sustainable wages, should be utilized for the department’s job portal.  If this website is truly for the good of the commonwealth, I think you will agree these conditions are in the best interests of all persons seeking employment in Pennsylvania.

At this time, please consider incorporating the above-requested changes into its Job Gateway site.  I look forward to discussing this matter further with you.  In the meantime, should you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact my office at (717)787-1141.

Sincerely,

Christine M. Tartaglione

State Senator

 

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