Labor chief: 100,000 jobs vacant in La.

[Omaha Steve]

http://www.2theadvocate.com/news/politics/17377109.html

# By SARAH CHACKO
# Advocate Capitol News Bureau
# Published: Apr 8, 2008

Despite having about 100,000 job openings in the state, many residents do not have the proper training or education to fill those positions, Labor Secretary Tim Barfield said Monday.

Legislators are considering bills to overhaul the state Labor Department, to coordinate worker training programs across the state, and to better align training with available jobs.

Before starting the regular session last week, Gov. Bobby Jindal said about 40 percent of the state’s population over age 16 is unemployed or underemployed.

“Educational attainment, or lack of attainment, keeps a significant amount of potential employees unemployed or underemployed,” Barfield told the Baton Rouge Press Club.

House Bill 1104 would restructure the Department of Labor, changing its name to the Louisiana Workforce Commission and expanding its scope to coordinate many of the job training and employment-related educational programs in the state.

Barfield said the issue does not rest on the Department of Labor alone but on the integration of services between several other state agencies including the Department of Economic Development, Department of Corrections and Department of Social Services.

FULL story at link.

[liberal N proud]

1. Sadly many residents do not have the education to fill those jobs

What does that say about the education system in Louisiana?