The nation’s economic slump led to an increase in visitors to Ladysmith Employment Navigators in the spring.

The office, operated by Ladysmith Employment Assistance Society, had 2,013 visits from roughly 1,000 clients from January to April this year.

“That’s a lot,” said Ann MacGillivray, executive director of the not for profit organization.

MacGillivray said there has been a 33 per cent overall increase from the previous quarter and a 40 per cent increase in workshop attendees.

Since opening in Ladysmith in 1992, the Employment Navigators client base is at 2,500 people. “These are people that our employment consultants are still in touch with,” said MacGillivray

“It can be very isolating for unemployed people, and even though economic times are hard right now, we try to keep our clients positive. Our trained professionals are here to support them with the proper tools.”

These free tools include access to comprehensive job postings, employment and career consulting, resume and cover letter writing assistance, workshops, faxing and photocopying and Internet use.

The demand has not strained work at the office though. More staff has been hired at Employment Navigators, which MacGillivray said has kept her optimistic about the government’s role in aiding the province’s unemployment rates.

Funding for Employment Navigators used to come from Service Canada but in February 2009 the B.C. Ministry of Housing and Social Development and the Employment and Labour Market Development Agreement of Canada took over the funding.

“The government is really trying and are allowing us to have more staff to offer employment assistance,” said McGillivray.

Employment Navigators, helps those unemployed be directed to specific suport programs that have been put in place, such as training support or wage subsidy programs