Freedom…
For years the Employment and Training Administration (ETA) declined to authorize enhancements for America’s Job Bank (AJB) that might have allowed it to compete more effectively with private sector job boards. Yet AJB refused to die.
AJB was voted a WEDDLE’s 2006 User’s Choice Award.
AJB was the 5th Best Site for Active Job Search.
Last year, ETA stated that “…the benefits of AJB no longer outweigh the costs of operating and maintaining this system…”, and announced that AJB would be phased out by June 30th, 2007. Yet AJB refused to die.
January 2007 data from Hitwise shows AJB remained (just barely) seventh in market share among employment and training sites.
AJB was voted a WEDDLE’s 2007 User’s Choice Award.
Last weekend ETA pulled the plug, setting America’s Job Bank free.
Rebirth…
AJB succeeded, not because of the design or infrastructure of AJB, but rather because it was an employer-funded public service, placed the highest priorities on confidentiality and data quality, partnered with employment services and private organizations, and helped meet our obligation to veterans. When ETA pulled the plug on AJB, only the parts that didn’t matter died.
AJB, the site, is gone; but its spirit lives on. Where before there was one site, now there are two … America’s Job Exchange and JobCentral have committed to maintaining the principles that made AJB successful and they’ve taken on the challenge of bringing together employers to provide direct funding now that the government has exited the market.
Last weekend the spirit of America’s Job Bank was reborn.
Innovation…
One thing is sure … whereas AJB stopped innovating years ago, the new competition between JobCentral and America’s Job Exchange will breed innovation. In this regard, we’ll all win.
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