LWC hosts ‘Back to Work Louisiana’ statewide job fair in Lake Charles

Lake Charles, LA (KPLC) - The Louisiana Workforce Commission launched its “Back to Work Louisiana” campaign, culminated in a statewide job fair Wednesday, August 4.

“We know that employers are hiring and that people are eager to get back to work,” LWC Secretary Ava Cates said. “This job fair will go a long way in connecting people who have been out of work to life-sustaining careers at a time when they need it the most.”

Hiring signs are common for many business storefronts amid the national staffing shortage.

For jobseekers like Airon Friddle, attending the statewide job fair event comes with a simple objective.

“I’m hoping to walk away with a job,” Friddle said.

This job fair works to create the match between an employer and a future employee, like Thaddeus Logan.

“I look for a job, that like, I think is good for me. Something that I can learn from, not just work and just get paid. And, you know, not learn nothing. Something I can improve on in my life too,” Logan said.

Many of the jobs are seeking workers with different skill sets and abilities.

“From the hard work boots on the ground entry-level, to truck drivers, to different things. And the benefits that come with the job is really really spectacular,” Charles Campbell with Clean Harbors Environmental said.

And some opportunities even teach the skills needed.

“So, we provide the training. In fact, we’re also partnered with Louisiana Workforce and IWTP to bring people in that are transitioning from other careers,” Billy Vincent with the Acadian Ambulance said.

Kellie Taylor-White, with the state’s workforce commission, said it’s a statewide and local effort to help repopulate the workforce, and it’s essential to make the match between jobs and the right employees to be able to boost and sustain the workforce.

“Our hope from the Louisiana Workforce Commission is to literally put Louisiana back to work. Through this difficult time of COVID and the pandemic in general, we’ve had some hits to our workforce,” Taylor-White said.

The workforce commission adds that in addition to the 14-thousand-plus job openings at the job fairs today, there are also another 60-thousand jobs available on their website.

The LWC says job fairs took place Wednesday at the following:

• Alexandria, Randolph Riverfront Center, 9 a.m – 12 p.m.

• Baton Rouge, Raising Cane’s River Center, 9 a.m. – 12 p.m.

• Houma, Municipal Auditorium, 9 a.m. – 1 p.m.

• Lafayette, Cajun Dome, 9 a.m. – 2 p.m.

• Lake Charles, Civic Center, 9 a.m. – 12 p.m.

• Monroe, Monroe Civic Center, 9 a.m. – 12 p.m.

• New Orleans, Ernest Morial Convention Center, 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.

• Shreveport, Shreveport Convention Center, 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.

The LWC says “Back to Work Louisiana” is helping the economy rebound by connecting job seekers with the careers they need to keep a roof over their heads and put food on the table for their families.

“The Back to Work Louisiana job fair was designed with employers and employees in mind,” Cates said. “We know the pandemic has made the past 18 months challenging for so many across our state. This job fair and this campaign helps fulfill LWC’s core purpose which is putting people to work.”

For more information about “Back to Work Louisiana,” click HERE.

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