With Demand Up, Job Centers Offer Opportunity

Nguyen said that many people are looking for health-care-related fields and that the centers are gearing their services to that expanding industry. "We've tried to shift some of our focus so we could adapt to what people are looking for," he said.

Each major Northern Virginia jurisdiction had an increase in unemployment from July 2007 to this July. Alexandria's rose from 2.2 percent to 3 percent; Arlington County's, from 1.8 percent to 2.7 percent; Fairfax County's, 2.2 percent to 3.2 percent; Loudoun County's, 2.1 percent to 3.3 percent; and Prince William County's, 2 percent to 3.7 percent. Across the region, the rate rose to 3.4 percent from 2.3 percent.

Although the region is insulated from many troubles of the national economy, Northern Virginia suffers from a weak housing market that has driven many of the job losses, economists say. Many at the center are looking for second jobs or a better job than the one they have to withstand the weakening economy.

In addition to aiding job seekers, the center has an office designed to help small businesses increase their profits and help those looking to start their own companies, plus a new youth job center.

In many cases, people at the center are looking for a better job or work that can lead to a career. Chung Hyun Kim, 61, who emigrated from Korea last year, has been working as a custodian for the Fairfax County school system for much of that time.

He started going to the center recently to explore becoming a nurse or medical assistant because he said he wants "more success."

With the region's increasing need for health care workers, center officials said they have developed outreach programs to help train a new generation of workers in medial fields.

Su Kyong Lee, 47, had just finished the certified nursing assistant training she found through the center and is caring for patients. She has been going to the SkillSource Center and wanted to continue her education though the agency and potentially become a nurse.

"This has always been my dream," she said. "They have helped me with my dream."