Louisiana Workforce Commission receives $3.45 million from U.S. Department of Labor to boost apprenticeship, job growth in La.

BATON ROUGE – The U.S. Department of Labor (USDOL) recently announced that the Louisiana Workforce Commission (LWC) will receive $3.45 million to support the expansion of its registered apprenticeship programs.

The funding received, is part of the USDOL’s “Building State Capacity to Expand Apprenticeship through Innovation” grant, that gave more than $80 million dollars to enhance Registered Apprenticeship opportunities across the country. Per USDOL, this funding is designed to support states and territories in implementing the following activities which include but not limited to:

- Expanding registered apprenticeships in healthcare, mental health care, addiction treatment, or alternative pain management occupations providing support to individuals living in rural areas;

- Incorporating specific strategies to support or expand Registered Apprenticeship opportunities among all workers, including women, minorities, veterans, individuals with disabilities, and individuals with a criminal record; and

- Launching or expanding sector strategies to expand RAPs to new industries and/or new or non-traditional occupations in existing sectors.

“This news could not have come at a better time, and we are grateful to the USDOL for selecting Louisiana to receive this funding that will allow us to train many more of our people for better paying jobs and rewarding careers,” said Gov. John Bel Edwards. “The Registered Apprenticeship program increases accessibility and opportunities, which ultimately strengthens our workforce, businesses, communities and economy.”

The Louisiana Workforce Commission (LWC) will receive approximately $450,000 in Tier 1 funding, and $3,000,000 in Tier 2 funding.

“Apprenticeship programs are proven methods to encourage in-demand industry training, opportunities for career advancement and one of the most effective ways to ensure our workforce is properly skilled for future jobs,” said Louisiana Workforce Commission Secretary Ava Dejoie. “Employers also benefit from these training programs as they are provided a well-trained labor force at no cost to their bottom line. Investments in apprenticeship will always be returned in forms of greater economic opportunity and business growth.”

As it stands, the LWC currently has 66 apprenticeship programs that span from healthcare to mechanical career-enhancement options. Additionally, LWC apprenticeship programs currently boast 3,618 active apprentices.

Apprenticeship programs are some of the oldest and most successful pathways to economic prosperity. By preparing the Louisiana workforce for current and future jobs, apprenticeships equip job-seekers with the educational tools and hands-on-training necessary to secure employment. Additionally, apprenticeship programs are not just for the craft occupations; businesses and industries across all sectors are embracing the “earn while you learn” apprenticeship model to train and prepare their future labor force.

If you have any questions regarding the LWC’s apprenticeship program, please visit http://www.laworks.net/FAQs/FAQ_APP_Apprenticeship.asp.

About the Louisiana Workforce Commission

The Louisiana Workforce Commission is an agency of state government that administers programs designed to enhance workforce growth and provide family-sustaining jobs for Louisiana residents. The commission monitors employment, administers unemployment compensation and tax funds, provides training resources for employers and employees and oversees worker compensation benefits. The agency also gathers and supplies information on the labor market and occupational sectors in Louisiana.

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