Alabama
Workforce Success Stories
CUSTOMER SUCCESS STORIES
Tuition assistance allows a young man to attend technical college and begin working in the Aerospace industry. Wendell Powell remembers playing with toy airplanes as a youngster. “I’ve always wanted to work with my hands and loved fixing things and taking things apart,” Powell said. The days went by and before he knew it he was a member of the 2005 graduating class of Williamson High School. Like some of his classmates, Powell decided to attend a four year college. He wasn’t sure what he would study and even admitted that he wasn’t sure that a four year college was for him.
A lifelong dream of becoming a nurse is realized when Mobile Works helps Reneta obtain WIA funds for tuition. “I have wanted to be a nurse since I was a little girl," states Renetta Powe, RN Specialized Care Nurse with Alta Pointe Health Systems. Powe was introduced to the hospital setting when she took a job as a monitor tech at a local hospital followed by employment as an occupational therapist technician. Her past employment experiences sparked her interest in wanting to help others and she decided to pursue a career in the nursing field.
A recent college graduate gains her first work experience through the summer youth program and moves on to full time employment. Rachel was a recent college graduate with no formal work experience. She was searching for a job in communications, a competitive field, and was constantly overlooked in favor of more qualified, experience candidates. She needed some practical work experience to boost her employability.
WORKFORCE EXPERTS
Alabama Department Of Economic and Community Affairs
Steve Walkley, Division Chief, Workforce Development Division
P.O. Box 5690
Montgomery, AL 36103-5690
KEY WORKFORCE PRIORITIES
1.
Maximize efficiency, effectiveness, and responsiveness of the Alabama Career Center System.
2.
Ensure that workforce development programs and services are aligned with current and future needs of job seekers and employers.
3.
Increase the number of skilled workers in Alabama’s labor pool.
FAST FACTS
- The Alabama economy is expected to expand by 2.4 percent in 2014, better than the growth rate of approximately 2.0 percent in 2013.
- Alabama’s labor force was 2,147,125 in May 2014; 2,000,057 employed with a 6.8% unemployment rate.
- By sector the top five employers in Alabama are manufacturing, health care services, retail trade, educational services and accommodation and food services.
LOCAL WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT BOARDS
Find local Workforce Development Boards in this state
WORKFORCE TESTIMONIALS
"New employees are a big investment, and I am very pleased with the results we've gotten from the On the Job Training Program. Employers who are considering new hires should call and learn more about the program."
Fleet Hollinger, President
"The Bay Area Food Bank has always looked first at Mobile Works when we need a new staff member. Our most recent addition was our communications coordinator who was a recent college graduate but had limited job experience in her field. We were able to bring her on under the six-month internship which has now transitioned to a full-time position. As she learned her skills, Mobile Works provided 50% of her salary, which gave us the incentive to let her learn on the job. It has worked out great!"
