Department of Labor Readies for Major Upgrade to Maine Job Bank

June 29, 2016

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: June 29, 2016
MEDIA CONTACT: Julie Rabinowitz, 207-621-5009

Maine Job Bank will be taken offline on June 29 to transition to Maine JobLink on July 5

AUGUSTA?The Bureau of Employment Services at Maine Department of Labor will begin a major upgrade to the Maine Job Bank, the state?s federally required job matching system, at 5 p.m. on Wednesday, June 29. This upgrade will occur over the holiday weekend and the system is anticipated to launch on July 5.

Current users, which include people looking for jobs, employers seeking workers and individuals currently filing for unemployment benefits, are being reminded to prepare for the changes. The department has been communicating with these audiences leading up to this change.

The upgrade has been planned so that it will not affect unemployment claimants? ability to file a weekly claim while the job board is offline. Claimants should continue to file online at www.file4ui.com or by calling the automated phone system at 1-800-593-7660.

Maine Job Bank will relaunch as Maine JobLink. The new-and-improved, cloud-based job board features improved job search and job matching functions, notifications of job matches via email, a professional resum? builder, support for more than 60 languages using Google Translate, a mobile-friendly design for smartphones and tablets and much more.

?Our team has been working extremely hard behind the scenes to make this transition as smooth as possible for our customers,? stated Commissioner of Labor Jeanne Paquette. ?As with any technology change, we expect that there will be some bugs to work out after launch and a learning curve as users get comfortable using the website?s new features and services. Therefore, we ask your patience during the first few weeks.?

She stated, ?We are confident that the end result will benefit both Maine?s employers and job seekers.?

The new system is managed as a consortium of state labor departments, called America?s Job Link Alliance (AJLA). Maine is the fifteenth state to join this proven, modern system. By sharing the costs and management of the system, states ensure that their systems meet all federal and state requirements yet keep costs lower than a custom, stand-alone system would require.

The new system will connect with national job databases, providing improved national recruitment for Maine employers using the system. Federal contractors and employers hiring foreign labor through the federal foreign labor programs are some of the employers required by federal law to use the state system.

Specific Information for People Currently Filing Weekly Unemployment Claims

After July 5, people filing an unemployment claim for the first time should go to www.file4UI.com. A Maine Job Link Account will be automatically created as part of the filing process.

Those who have been filing unemployment claims over the past year will need to ensure they have logged in and completely updated their Maine JobLink account by August 6. Maine unemployment law requires all individuals filing for unemployment insurance benefits to be registered with Maine JobLink. Both claimants who file via the telephone and those who file online will have their claim each week checked to ensure that they have a complete and active registration on MaineJobLink.

"After August 6, if you file a continued claim online at file4ui.com and do not have an active or complete Maine JobLink account, you will receive a message on the screen that tells you to open or update your JobLink account," said Commissioner Paquette. "If you file by phone and you do not have a complete or active JobLink account, the system will tell you to call unemployment insurance customer service. Before you call us, we recommend that you update the information in your JobLink account using the tips below as a guide, and then try to file again, preferably online, or by phone. Doing this may avoid your having to call the department and should help your claim go through much faster."

Here are tips to make sure that your Maine JobLink account will be marked as ?registered? by the unemployment claims system come August 6:
- If you are filing for unemployment insurance benefits for the first time, we recommend you go to file4ui.com before creating a job seeker account with Maine JobLink. Portions of your information you supply through http://file4ui.com will carry over to your Maine JobLink account, saving you time and effort.
- If you do not currently have a complete and active Maine Job Bank account, you will be required to complete one when you go to file your next claim. This could take up to 60 minutes, depending on the length and variety of your employment history.
- JobLink accounts are created online, so you will need to use a computer or mobile device with Internet access. If you do not have one, you can use a computer of a family member or friend or use one at a Maine CareerCenter or public library.
- It will help new users to register on Maine JobLink if you can look at your resume while you create your account.
- You will need to provide a valid email address. - Make sure all sections of Maine JobLink registration are complete.
- If you need assistance in creating or updating an account on Maine JobLink, check with family members or friends familiar with computer and Internet use or visit your local Maine CareerCenter and our staff can help you be ready for this new process.

Further Assistance

If you are in need of assistance with your Maine JobLink account, you can connect with Maine JobLink staff through the CareerCenter hotline from Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Maine only: 1-888-457-8883
From out of state: 207-623-7981
TTY users call Maine Relay 711

Assistance is also available at Maine CareerCenters. You can find the location and hours of the closest CareerCenter at http://www.mainecareercenter.com . CareerCenters, part of the Maine Department of Labor, offer a variety of services to help people find employment or upgrade skills. Each center provides several public-access computer workstations with Microsoft Office software, resume writing and cover letter software, Internet access and O?Net software for skills assessment. All CareerCenter services are provided at no charge. More information is available on the CareerCenter website, http://www.mainecareercenter.com .

In order to qualify to collect unemployment benefits, workers must have lost their jobs through no fault of their own, be actively seeking work and be able to accept new work. Workers who do not participate in a suitable, verifiable work search, who have not completed their JobLink registration or who do not document their work search risk losing unemployment benefits and could be required to pay back benefits they have received. Maine CareerCenters are an equal opportunity provider. Auxiliary aids and services are available upon request to individuals with disabilities.

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Supporting documents

The home page for the new Maine JobLink that will launch July 5.