Greensboro and Guilford County are recruiting new businesses like crazy right now, and one thing the area doesn’t want to be is the dog that caught the car. In other words, there needs to be enough skilled labor to fill those jobs when they get here.
To that end, there is GuilfordWorks’ CAREER Connections’ “Trade Train Initiative” – a job training program that will kick off on Thursday, June 27.
On that date, the GuilfordWorks’ CAREER Connections team is launching its Trade Train: Training Provider Expo.
That’s a summer-long series of events “designed to bring multiple training institutions together for individuals interested in earning recognized trade credentials or licenses in high-demand occupations.”
Unemployment numbers are low right now and all kinds of businesses are looking for a wide variety of workers who can fill their needs.
GuilfordWorks may be able to help support some of those seeking training through its educational funding sources. You can learn more at GuilfordWorks.org.
After registering, participants will meet with a CAREER Connections career advisor to determine funding eligibility.
Each event this summer will allow participants to enroll with the training provider best suited to their schedule and also suited to their desired learning methods.
The first Trade Train event will take place from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Thursday, June 27 at the offices of the Guilford County Division of Social Services at 1203 Maple Street in Greensboro. It will be in Room 122.
This first event will focus on transportation – specifically acquiring a Commercial Driver’s License.
Registration to attend is required.
There’s a big demand for truck drivers and other commercial drivers right now, but if that’s not your cup of tea, keep your eye out for the upcoming events that may help you get into a job in the field of your choosing.
At one time we had a “program” that taught trade skills for industries in Guilford County and seemed to provide training very effectively. Even though my baby brother used to refer to it as “Harvard by the Highway”, he received associate degrees in architectural drafting and civil engineering from the old Guilford Technical Institute and did quite well for himself.
Unfortunately our school system has become a de facto college prep system that largely fails even in that endeavour. When I attended high school there was a robust program that taught woodworking skills ( when we were a center for furniture manufacturing) , trained mechanics, machinists and even secretarial skills. The “distributive education” program taught students skills necessary in doing work in retail stores.
Now you’re lucky if you can find a student who is able to add a column of figures, calculate a discount, make change or read and comprehend simple instructions.
The suggested program sounds all well and good, but begs the question of who will be teaching these skills and where will these skills be taught?
Hey Dan, things will soon get better. The school system has a couple billion dollars so throwing all this money at the problem will surely raise year end grades.