North Louisiana — Throughout September, Goodwill Industries of North Louisiana is celebrating National Workforce Development Month, where states across the country recognize the contributions of workforce professionals and highlight events and initiatives that support job seekers and employers.
“Goodwill provides a range of services to help job seekers find good, sustainable jobs. This includes hands-on job training and support services such as résumé building,” said Lynn Stevens, Director of Workforce Development. “Goodwill’s model of selling donated items has helped fund local job training and employment programs for nearly 100 years.”
Currently, in partnership with the Department of Children and Family Services, Goodwill is working with both custodial and non-custodial parents, and SNAP receipients, to obtain the training needed to experience upward economic mobility. In 2023, this allowed Goodwill to pay for 38 individuals to obtain certifications in fields such as Truck Driving (Commercial Driver’s Licenses), Manufacturing (Forklift), and Medical Fields (Phelbotomist and Medical Assistant).
At a time when thousands of Louisianans are looking for work, Goodwill Industries is working to help people in our local community obtain the job skills and training needed to secure employment and obtain better employment. In 2023, Goodwill Industries of North Louisiana helped 2,525 people throughout North Louisiana with job training and job placement services.
According to the U.S. Department of Labor’s latest jobs report, unemployment is currently at around 4%; however, thousands of workers across Louisiana still struggle with underemployment and low wages. Goodwill Industries is committed to doing its part in responding to the gap in employment and skills needed to support individuals who face barriers to finding employment today.
To learn more about the workforce programs Goodwill offers, visit https://goodwillnla.org/programs/.
