If you’re ready to search for a job or build a resume right now, go to Focus|Career™.

Are you prepared?

Before you dive in to the job listings, however, ask yourself if you’re prepared. If your last job was doing something that is less in-demand than it once was, maybe you should explore another line of work. Perhaps you have interests and skills that go beyond what your last job required. Maybe you need more education or more training to land that dream job. Maybe you’ve been out of the job market for a while and need some guidance on where to turn.

The Kentucky Career Center can help. We offer a long list of services aimed at moving your career to the next level.

What does Focus|Career™ offer?

If you are unemployed or looking for a new career opportunity Focus|Career™ provides both a professional resume builder and a path to job registration.

Features allow you to:

• Build a professional resume easily, using the interview wizard.
• Find job leads instantly that match your skills and transferable abilities.
• Schedule job alerts daily or weekly to your inbox.
• Explore career options and paths to reach your education and employment goals.

Whether building your first resume or updating a previous one, Focus|Career™ offers an easy-to-use resume builder that virtually writes the resume for you. With required and optional sections, the system gives you flexibility in designing a resume that reflects your skills, knowledge and abilities. Print out this easy to use checklist that will help you use Focus Career to its maximum potential.

Set up to five job alerts to search for specific types of positions. These alerts are delivered to your inbox daily or weekly. Focus|Career™ uses artificial intelligence to match your skills to jobs and rank them with 1 to 5 stars, showing how well you qualify for a position.

Need help with Focus|Career™?

If you need immediate assistance, contact: KentuckyCareerCenterSupport@ky.gov
or call (502) 564-0871, Monday - Friday, 8:00 am - 4:30 pm, EST.

Unemployment Insurance Services

• File or access your unemployment insurance claim
• Request your bi-weekly benefits online
• Request your bi-weekly benefits by calling the Voice Response Unit at 877-369-5984
• Complete your eligibility review
• Direct deposit - setup or make changes

You might qualify for unemployment benefits if you lost your job through no fault of your own. You must register for work when you file your claim and actively seek a new job.

You can apply by calling (502) 875-0442
     Monday - Friday 7:30 am - 5:30 pm, EST

Website: Monday - Friday from 7:00 am - 7:00 pm, EST
     Sunday from 10:00 am - 9:00 pm EST

You may also call 1-800-648-6057 for telecommunications relay service.

Instructional videos:

   Watch our video to learn how to apply for benefits.

   Watch a video from U.S. Labor Secretary Hilda Solis on receiving employment benefits.

You are responsible for the accuracy of all of your answers. KRS 341.990 (5) Any person who knowingly makes a false statement or representation of a material fact or knowingly fails to disclose a material fact to the Secretary to obtain or increase any benefit under this chapter or under an employment security law of any other state, or of the federal government, either for himself or for any other person, business entity, or organization shall be guilty of a Class A misdemeanor unless the value of the benefits procured or attempted to be procured is one hundred dollars ($100) or more, in which case he will be guilty of a Class D felony.

Unemployment insurance benefits are considered taxable income by the Internal Revenue Service and the Kentucky Department of Revenue.

You may choose to have 10% of your benefits withheld for federal taxes and/or 4% for Kentucky state taxes. (Just remember, you can only change this withholding once throughout the life of the claim.)

Not everyone who applies for unemployment insurance is approved. Possible reasons for denial could include some common reasons below and require an investigation:

• you lost your job because of misconduct;
• you quit your job without good cause attributable to the employment;
• you are unable to work;
• you have a medical condition that prevents you from working;
• you don't have reliable transportation;
• you don’t have someone to care for your children while you work;
• you’re not a U.S. citizen and are prohibited from working;
• you have unreasonably limited the wages you’ll accept, the hours or days you will work, where you will work or the jobs you will accept;
• you are self-employed or own your own business;
• you’re attending school without prior approval from us, or
• you’re a school worker between terms.

If your benefits are denied and you wish to contest it you can file an appeal in writing. Your letter of appeal must be postmarked within 15 days of the mail date of your denial. Full details are available here.

If you have specific questions about the unemployment insurance appeals process, please contact your local career center or (502) 564-3925.

We’ve also produced two videos to help explain the appeals process.
Watch our video on how to file an appeal.
Watch a separate video showing what to expect in an appeals hearing.

Rapid Response for Dislocated Workers is an early-intervention service offered to assist businesses and workers affected by layoffs and plant closings.

The local career center operates the Rapid Response Team. This team is trained to react quickly to announcements concerning permanent facility closures or substantial layoff situations throughout the state. Rapid Response works closely with the Local Workforce Investment Boards and the local elected officials in adversely affected areas to insure that dislocated workers receive program information and services – including applying for unemployment insurance and looking for a new job. Rapid Response services are offered at no cost to the business or the participating employees.

The federal Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification, or WARN, requires employers to provide written notice at least 60 calendar days in advance of covered plant closings and mass layoffs. This assures that assistance can be provided to affected workers, their families, and the appropriate communities.
Click here for more information about WARN.

For more information contact your local Career Center.