Pennsylvania launches coronavirus job hiring portal

The Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry launched a job portal Monday, focusing on life-sustaining businesses that are hiring during the covid-19 pandemic.

“Many life-sustaining businesses across Pennsylvania are hiring, and this new portal will help connect them with people looking for a job,” said Labor and Industry Secretary Jerry Oleksiak.

The pandemic has put many Pennsylvania residents out of work. More than 1.1 million people in the state filed for full or partial unemployment since the start of the statewide shutdown.

Last week, the Department of Labor and Industry announced they would hire a slew of workers themselves, to respond to the surge in unemployment claims. The hires will staff a temporary call center as interviewers, the department said.

Now, according to a news release, people seeking employment can also visit PAcareerlink.pa.gov and select “PA covid-19 Jobs — Hiring Immediately.” Life-sustaining businesses must have more than 10 job openings to be featured in the portal. The portal will be updated daily.