Texas employers can receive monetary incentives for hiring unemployed workers under a two-year, $15 million program promoted by Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst and funded by the Legislature last session. Texas Back to Work offers employers wage subsidies for hiring qualified out-of-work Texans, the Texas Workforce Commission (TWC) announced, and is available to employers through the 28 Texas local workforce development boards, which also provide employers with workforce recruitment assistance, pre-screening of qualified applicants and training programs. More than 1.8 million customers were served in more than 240 workforce centers across Texas last year.
Through the new program, some employers who hire people receiving unemployment benefits can receive a portion of the new employees’ wages for a set period of time. Employers can receive up to $2,000 in wage subsidies if they continue to employ the formerly out-of-work employees for at least 120 days.
Local workforce board contact information can be found on the TWC Web site at http://www.twc.state.tx.us/dirs/wdbs/wdbmap.html.