Time is running out for Tesoro to find a buyer for its refinery.

If that doesn''t happen soon, 200 workers stand to lose their jobs.

Tesoro is working to help place its workers, by organizing a job fair.

And Tuesday afternoon, the labor department’s rapid response team began meeting with refinery employees to explain the in's and out's of unemployment.

"They are not laid off yet but this is good we like to work with them early on," said Elaine Young administrator of the labor department’s workforce division.

The state has also reached out to to Sears who says 327 workers could be affected by a decision to close its Ala Moana Center store in June-- months earlier than originally announced.

"We will have to wait to find out more about what their needs will be" said Young.

That includes determining who qualifies for unemployment and whether they are interested in future full-time or part-time work.

While the labor team moves to respond to the planned layoffs, many of the programs to help displaced workers rely on federal funds.

With sequestration looming, those programs could face cuts.