Training and Education

Educational and Training Resources Available to Businesses

Incumbent Worker Training Program

The Incumbent Worker Training Program is designed to benefit business and industry by assisting in the skill development of existing employees and thereby increase employee productivity and the growth of the company. These improvements are expected to result in the creation of new jobs, the retention of jobs that otherwise may have been eliminated, and an increase in wages for trained workers. To be eligible, a company must have operated in Louisiana and contributed to the state's Unemployment Insurance System for at least three years. An employer or a consortium of employers with similar needs must have at least 15 employees to be trained.

Workforce Investment Act (WIA)

The Workforce Investment Act (WIA) is an employment and training program that emphasizes rapid job attachment with post-employment services designed to grow income through the development of the job skills needed to obtain a first job, grow from under-to full-time employment and move up the career ladder. Adult and dislocated workers have universal access to core employment assistance services such as job search, placement assistance, labor market information and career guidance through One-Stop Career Centers. Customers may receive more intensive counseling, assessment, and career planning services if they are unable to get or keep a job through intensive services. They may be eligible for skills training in occupations responsive to local labor market demands.

Workforce Development and Training Program

This program seeks to develop and provide customized workforce training programs in order to improve the competitiveness and productivity of Louisiana's workforce and business community and to assist Louisiana businesses in promoting employment stability. Eligible companies are those who are planning on locating a facility within the state, companies expanding their current operation within the state by the addition of a new area location, and existing Louisiana businesses that have been operating less than three years if all qualifications are met.

Job Service / Employment Office

Job Service is a federally funded program, maintained by the Louisiana Department of Labor, with files containing the largest supply of qualified job seekers in the state. Job listings that cannot be filled on a local basis are fed into a computerized system. This system makes job orders available to placement interviewers in offices across the state. Employers may also use the facilities of any of the statewide Job Service offices to carry out a prospective employee search. An employer may advertise a job opening in any area of the state and have a representative conduct interviews in Job Service offices where qualified applicants are available.