Area employers like hiring military spouses and often fax job announcements to the FSC before openly advertising the position in the local media. We file many new job announcements every week. Due to the high volume of announcements coming in and the fact that good jobs do not stay open very long, the FSC does not maintain a "list" of jobs to be mailed or faxed. Instead, the FSC Career Focus Program maintains binders in our resource room containing advertisements, broken down by job category.
Employment prospects in the Washington DC Metropolitan Area are generally very good. While the unemployment rate for the District of Columbia itself is somewhat higher than the national average, the unemployment rates for the surrounding areas of Maryland and Virginia are usually lower. Persons with clerical and office skills, computer skills and retail experience should find work without much difficulty. Prospects are particularly good in computer technology, security and law enforcement, communications, healthcare, banking, administration, and service businesses. A fast-growing industry in the area is temporary placement.
As a general rule, job opportunities and wages increase in proportion to how far away from Andrews you are willing to travel each day. Washington DC is a commuter city and regional commutes of 30-60 minutes one-way are not at all uncommon. Many spouses working downtown drive to a METRO Rail station and take the train to work.
The economic and business climate of Prince George County is stable and growing. Among the top employers are the University of Maryland, Andrews Air Force Base, Digital Equipment, and the Goddard Space Flight Center. These entities account for more than 30,000 of the county's jobs.
Be sure to contact The Career Focus counselor at the Family Support Center at your new installation as soon as you have orders and when you arrive. We can assist you in your search for employment. See contact information in the "Contacts/Links" listing for Permanent Employment Resources. A representative from the Maryland Employment Commission is located part-time within the Family Support Center to assist job seekers.
The Transition Assistance Program (TAP) assists separating and retired members in their job search. The program receives many new job leads daily. A resource room with computers to access jobs such as America's Job Bank is available. Trade papers, magazines and newsletters can be referenced and listings of federal, other government and private employment are prominently displayed or in binders.
Remember to hand carry your employment and educational records, as well as resumes and other pertinent information to assist in getting started on your job search upon your arrival.
UNEMPLOYMENT COMPENSATION:
Call 301-441-2110 or 410-508-2341 in Maryland or visit the unemployment office where you currently live for information on eligibility.