North Louisiana – Throughout September, Goodwill Industries of North Louisiana is celebrating National Workforce Development Month — which recognizes the hard work and significant impact made by workforce professionals in advancing national and local economies today.

“From résumé building and interview preparation to connecting job seekers to local employers and community colleges, Goodwill provides a range of services to help job seekers find good, sustainable jobs,” said Lynn Stevens, Director of Workforce Development. “Since Goodwill's inception, the revenue generated from the sale of donated items has helped fund job training and employment programs for individuals throughout all of North Louisiana.”

Currently, in partnership with Indeed and Goodwill Industries International, Goodwill is distributing 191 computer devices, providing 825 Lyft rides and funding costs for 20 expungements to help more individuals find employment today. Additionally this month, Goodwill has partnered with Ouachita Workforce 81, the Cities of Monroe and West Monroe, and the Ouachita Parish Police Jury to sponsor the Job & Career Expo on September 21, 2022, from 10am to 7pm. 

At a time when millions of people across the nation are still looking for work, Goodwill Industries of North Louisiana is working to help people in our local community obtain the needed job skills and training to secure employment and obtain self-sufficiency and upward economic mobility. In 2021, the services at Goodwill’s Job Centers helped 1,510 individuals’ throughout North Louisiana with job training and job placement services, while helping 472 of those secure employment among 224 local employers.

According to the U.S. Department of Labor’s latest jobs report, nationally, unemployment has remained the same and wages are growing; however, millions of workers across the country still struggle with underemployment and low wages and more than 11 million jobs currently remain unfilled.

Goodwill Industries of North Louisiana is committed to doing its part in responding to the gap in employment and skills training, and supporting those individuals in North Louisiana. To learn more about the workforce programs Goodwill offers, visit https://goodwillnla.org/programs/.