:: Business Guide - Louisiana ::

Workforce development

Louisiana offers employers a wealth of resources to find workers, train workers and track labor market information. The Louisiana Department of Labor offers an online portal where employers can handle everything from filing unemployment insurance claims and quarterly wage reports to paying employer taxes; identifying positions that employers around the state are seeking to fill; locating jobseekers; and online job posting and resume searching.

Workforce Virtual One-stop

Incumbent Worker Training Program
This award-winning program is a partnership of LDOL, business and industry, and training providers that provides grants to eligible businesses to pay for highly customized training and skills development programs. Employers select their own qualified training providers and identify their own objectives and curricula. Companies can obtain a grant to train different departments in different skills or focus more narrowly on a particular skill development. Training may take place at a nearby campus or onsite. Only companies that have operated in Louisiana and contributed to the unemployment insurance system for at least three years are eligible. Forms and informational brochures are available online.

Small Business Employment Training
This part of the IWTP program is designed to benefit business and industry by assisting in the skill development of existing employees through individual, standardized (off-the shelf) training. Employers are reimbursed for tuition and required textbooks and manuals. Forms and informational brochures are available online.

Recovery Workforce Training Program
A $38 million program to train workers for high-demand jobs in construction, health care, transportation, advanced manufacturing and the oil and gas and cultural sectors was announced by Gov. Kathleen Blanco, the Louisiana Workforce Commission and the Louisiana Recovery Authority in October 2006. Funded by Community Development Block Grant funds, the specific training programs were under development at time of publication. Contact the Louisiana Recovery Authority for details about programs and providers.

Louisiana Workforce Development and Training Program
This Louisiana Economic Development program provides funding for customized workforce training programs for: (1) Louisiana companies expanding within the state by an additional location in a new area; (2) existing Louisiana businesses that have been operating less than three years; and (3) companies located outside of Louisiana locating a facility within the state. The expansion of an existing Louisiana company, by the addition of a new technology or product line, can be considered. For more information, contact the Louisiana Department of Economic Development or call (225) 342-5375.

Postsecondary institutions
See the Higher ed map for locations of universities, colleges and technical college campuses in your area. The Louisiana Board of Regents maintains a list and contact information for all institutions of higher learning in the state. In addition to supplying the state's higher education needs with a variety of technical, professional and advanced degree programs, many of these institutions are also active in partnering with business and industry to apply for and supply training for IWTP grants. This network of postsecondary institutions is working in partnership with local Workforce Investment Boards and the Louisiana Department of Labor to assure all businesses in the state have access to comprehensive workforce solutions.

Louisiana Board of Regents

Louisiana Community and Technical College System

Louisiana State University System

University of Louisiana System

Southern University System

Tulane University

Foreign Labor Certification
The U.S. Department of Labor issues labor certifications for permanent and temporary employment under the following programs:

Permanent Labor Certification
H-1B Specialty (Professional) Workers
H-1C Nurses in Disadvantaged Areas
H-2A Temporary Labor Certification (Seasonal Agricultural)
H-2B Temporary Labor Certification (Non-agricultural)
D-1 Crewmembers Certification

Foreign labor certification programs permit U.S. employers to hire foreign workers on a temporary or permanent basis to fill jobs essential to the U.S. economy. Certification may be obtained in cases where it can be demonstrated that there are insufficient qualified U.S. workers available and willing to perform the work at wages that meet or exceed the prevailing wage paid for that occupation in the area of intended employment.
For additional information visit the DOL Web site or contact the Louisiana Department of Labor at (225) 342-6407.