Last week it was announced that unemployment decreased in all of the state’s 100 counties in March. While these numbers do not reflect seasonal adjustments, Employment Security Commission Chair Lynn Holmes commended the Governor’s JobsNOW “12-in-6” program as an example of one state initiative dedicated to getting unemployed North Carolinians back into the workforce.
Gov. Perdue’s JobsNOW “12-in-6” program was created in August 2009 with $13.4 million in federal recovery funds. The money was used to hire community college teachers and expand community college course offerings to train local workers in six months or less for occupations that matched local employer needs.
As of March 31, 2010 nearly 11,000 students have enrolled in “12-in-6” training classes and 2,600 workers have completed training. The classes, which began in the fall and require six months or less to finish, vary in occupation areas. Nursing, phlebotomy, office support, masonry, plumbing, carpentry, welding, food service, and auto body repair are only some of the courses offered and community colleges have the flexibility to teach courses that are tailored to their local economy’s needs as well.
Jobs are Gov. Perdue’s number one priority and on-the-ground, targeted job training like JobsNOW “12-in-6” are critical to our economic future.