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CANTON —
The regional Ohio Department of Job and Family Services regional office here will close as the state agency shutters 13 centers to reduce rental expenses.
The state’s local office is at 402 Second St. SE. For the most part, tasks performed there involve processing unemployment compensation forms. The office does not provide in-person service.
“These moves will be invisible to the people we serve,” said Benjamin Johnson, public relations officer for the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services. “This has no impact of the (Stark) county department of Job and Family Services. Unemployment claims are filed either on-line or over the telephone.”
Staff at the Canton office will be relocated to the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services’ sites in Akron and Youngstown. There are 89 employees at the Canton office.
“Of the offices closing, it was one of the biggest,” Johnson said. “We understand this will impact those communities. We can’t justify renting some buildings that are more than 50 percent vacant.”
The state agency anticipates saving about $2 million annually by eliminating the 13 offices. Consolidation will start this spring.
“This plan does preserve every job, but it does require staff to move to other locations,” Johnson said.
The regional Ohio Department of Job and Family Services regional office here will close as the state agency shutters 13 centers to reduce rental expenses.
The state’s local office is at 402 Second St. SE. For the most part, tasks performed there involve processing unemployment compensation forms. The office does not provide in-person service.
“These moves will be invisible to the people we serve,” said Benjamin Johnson, public relations officer for the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services. “This has no impact of the (Stark) county department of Job and Family Services. Unemployment claims are filed either on-line or over the telephone.”
Staff at the Canton office will be relocated to the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services’ sites in Akron and Youngstown. There are 89 employees at the Canton office.
“Of the offices closing, it was one of the biggest,” Johnson said. “We understand this will impact those communities. We can’t justify renting some buildings that are more than 50 percent vacant.”
The state agency anticipates saving about $2 million annually by eliminating the 13 offices. Consolidation will start this spring.
“This plan does preserve every job, but it does require staff to move to other locations,” Johnson said.
