HOUSTON — Companies across Texas are hiring to help the hundreds of thousands of Texans who filed for unemployment in the last week amid layoffs and furloughs due to COVID-19.
The WorkInTexas.com website shows more than 600,000 job openings statewide, and about 500 in the Houston area, and is recommended by the Texas Workforce Commission.
According to the TWC, health care and social assistance is the number one hiring industry in the state, with 34,493 jobs posted in the last month.
According to the Texas Medical Center’s website – there are almost 1,230 jobs available within a 30-mile radius from Houston.
CVS is also hiring – with nearly 700 jobs in the greater Houston area – including store managers, cashiers, pharmacy technicians, and logistics like warehouse positions.
Retail trade and food services make up another 33,000 job openings across the state according to the Texas Workforce Commission.
People who have been laid off due to COVID-19 say they are struggling to get these jobs, though.
Albert Flores said the oil and gas company he worked for laid him off about a month ago, and has been applying to roughly 15 jobs each day, waiting for an offer to finally be official.
"I’m even competing with people who are vice presidents and things like that so it’s a lot of competition out there as well. You’re not dealing with the everyday job market," said Flores.
RELATED: Here's what the Texas Workforce Commission is doing to respond to influx of people in need of help
"Houston is now a critical market," said Yani Hurst, Workforce Initiatives Manager at CVS Health, wrote in a message. "I have never seen us hire like this!"
Hurst said CVS created an accelerated hiring process due to the number of furloughed people from partners companies. Those who have been laid-off from the companies listed can go through an accelerated hire process.
Those companies include: Hilton, Marriott, IHG, MGM Resorts, United Airlines, American Airlines, Delta Airlines, Macy's, Inspired Brands, Gap, Cheesecake Factory, Panera, WhiteCastle, Compass Group, and Sodexo.
"This process is moving REALLY FAST!" she wrote. "Our TA recruiters and Hiring Agents are taking the candidates with a qualifying application, and basically holding their hands all the way through to Hired. Store Manager are then notified that they are receiving an accelerated hire."
People who do not work for a partner company can still get hired too:
"Hiring Managers are working through these applicants quickly too, but unlike the above these applicants are having to wait until their background and drug-test results post," said Hurst.
"Generally, the background checks take the longest during the hire process. This accelerated process does not wait till results are back for the person to start - however if the results are unfavorable when the results comeback we deal with it then. We are just trying to minimize the number of people out there rushing to TWC for unemployment, while still finding great talent for our locations," she said.
Coronavirus symptoms
The symptoms of coronavirus can be similar to the flu or a bad cold. Symptoms include a fever, cough and shortness of breath, according to the Centers for Disease Control. Some patients also have nausea, body aches, headaches and stomach issues. Losing your sense of taste and/or smell can also be an early warning sign.
Most healthy people will have mild symptoms. A study of more than 72,000 patients by the Centers for Disease Control in China showed 80 percent of the cases there were mild.
But infections can cause pneumonia, severe acute respiratory syndrome, kidney failure and even death, according to the World Health Organization. Older people with underlying health conditions are most at risk for becoming seriously ill. However, U.S. experts are seeing a significant number of younger people being hospitalized, including some in ICU.
The CDC believes symptoms may appear anywhere from two to 14 days after being exposed.
Human coronaviruses are usually spread through...
- The air by coughing or sneezing
- Close personal contact, such as touching or shaking hands
- Touching an object or surface with the virus on it, then touching your mouth, nose or eyes before washing your hands.
Help stop the spread of coronavirus
- Stay home when you are sick.
- Eat and sleep separately from your family members
- Use different utensils and dishes
- Cover your cough or sneeze with your arm, not your hand.
- If you use a tissue, throw it in the trash.
- Follow social distancing
Lower your risk
- Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands.
- Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
- Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces.
- If you are 60 or over and have an underlying health condition such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes or respiratory illnesses like asthma or COPD, the World Health Organization advises you to try to avoid crowds or places where you might interact with people who are sick.
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