Mass Lay-Off

Carolyn Barrett, NWGRC-Rapid Response, coordinated an on-site informational session at Trinity North American, Inc. (Trinity Rail), for laid off employees to receive referrals to On-the-Job-Training and Individual Training Agreements.  Three hundred eleven (311) employees were laid off with one hundred seven (107) remaining employed. Informational packets were handed out to one hundred ninety seven (197) employees, of which one hundred fifteen (115) came through the mobile lab to register for Employ Ga, complete job search and applications.  The session was held at the Cartersville location from 7:30 a.m. until 7:30 p.m. on December 12, 13, 14 and 15^th to make sure everyone was seen either during or after hours.  Twelve (12) area employers were available to interview applicants on-site Dec. 14^th from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. .  Hopefully, there will be OJT contracts and ITA’s from this outreach.  Several individuals were interested in attending area colleges and may begin next semester. Six (6) different types of welders were the majority of employees laid off.  Administrative, quality control, material manager, buyer, control process operators, equipment technicians, mobile equipment operators, painters and planner/schedulers were some of the other positions that were laid off.

IS YOUR BUSINESS WORKFORCE CHALLENGED?

. . . Funding Now Available For Advanced Manufacturing Training

Due to the high productivity and technological advances in today’s advanced manufacturing workplaces, access to talented labor with advanced skills is a critical need among employers. As more companies become workforce challenged, innovative workforce development strategies are being initiated to help provide training to fill the talent-gap chasm. The most popular of these, whether provided internally or from outside resources, are work-based learning programs such as apprenticeship, internship, co-ops, and on-the-job training.

In response to critical workforce needs expressed by Georgia employers, the Georgia Department of Economic Development – Workforce Division (GDEcD-WD), through its Georgia WorkSmart work-based learning initiative, applied for and received an American Apprenticeship Initiative Grant Award funded by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Employment and Training Administration. A partnership consisting of a Regional Apprenticeship Coordinator, USDOL, the Technical College System of Georgia (TCSG), and other education and workforce agencies, assists companies in the Advanced Manufacturing industry in developing and implementing customized Registered Apprenticeship training programs. Technical assistance and funding for the tuition-based portion of training, in addition to other resources, are available to meet specific hiring and training needs. On-The-Job training funded through WIOA at the Georgia Department of Labor may complement the training.

Apprenticeship training has been proven to be a key investment in a company’s future. By training apprentices, an employee pool can be created to meet future workforce needs, contribute to the bottom line, and increase competitiveness in today’s economy.  For every $1 spent on Registered Apprenticeship, employers earn an average of $1.47 back in increased productivity.*

Benefits for employers include:

• Development of a highly skilled workforce
• Flexible training options tailored to meet employer needs
• Recruitment of new hires or selection of candidates from current employees
• Proven higher performance outcomes in employment and retention
• Improved productivity, profitability, and bottom line*
• Reduction of worker turnover
• Greater employee loyalty

As the Regional Apprenticeship Coordinator for Region 1 (northwest and west Georgia), Sarah Harrison serves as a liaison between employers, technical colleges, and participants involved in a Registered Apprenticeship program under the AAI grant, and is the primary case manager for all AAI Registered Apprentices. According to Harrison, “A monumental event occurred on November 15^th, when the eight participating Georgia technical colleges signed agreements to become Registered Apprenticeship sponsors, taking a huge administrative burden off employers.” Interested businesses are encouraged to contact Harrison at 706.459.4485 or sharrison@georgia.org for more information.

* USDOL

Career Development Facilitator

Interested in becoming a professional counselor?  The Career Development Facilitator training might be for you!

The Career Development Facilitator credential works in any career development setting – working with students, adults, clients, employees, or the public.  This title designates individuals working in a variety of career development settings: career group facilitator, job search trainer, career resource center coordinator, career coach, career development case manager, intake interviewer, occupational and labor market information resource person, human resource career development coordinator, employment/placement specialist, or workforce development staff person.

The training is in-depth in the form of up to 120+ class/instructional hours, provided by a nationally trained and qualified instructor.

The class can be taken at home or in the classroom, participate in the eLearning mode of delivery or a hybrid course utilizing face-to-face instruction with eLearning instruction.  The training includes hands-on and interactive teaching methods and opportunities to interact with colleagues from a variety of work settings. Since the course content covers 12 important competencies, there is plenty of opportunity to build skills and knowledge in areas that are new to you, as well as enhance and develop those that you use every day in your work.

What Will I Learn?

• Career resources and labor market information
• Career planning processes
• Basic helping and facilitation skills
• Career development models and theories
• Informal and formal assessment approaches
• Diversity and specific population needs
• Development and maintenance of an effective career resource center
• Training others and program promotion
• Case management and referral skills
• Ethical and scope-of-practice issues
• Professional and resource portfolios
• Cutting-edge job searching
• and more . . .!

If you are interested in the training, contact Tammy Helbing at NWGRC (706) 295-6485.  She can tell you of her personal experience and how she has incorporated her education in her work.