A Leg Up: Skills Training Helps Adults Gain Advantage in Job Market

Written by Carol Johnson
Featured Article in The Times-Mail

Welding isn't something Tiffany Michael ever thought she would learn to do, but the Bedford woman is not ruling it out as a skill that could land her a job after her experience in the welding shop at the North Lawrence Career Center. After years of working mostly fast food jobs and struggling to find anything better, Michael, 36, is broadening her skill set through a Lawrence County program for adults. Introduction to Local Jobs and Skills is for any adult in Lawrence County. A program of the Lawrence County Economic Growth Council and Economic Workforce Coalition, the three-week program is held at the North Lawrence Career Center. NLCC instructors teach classes in welding,  construction and machining. Participants also learn about health and safety and receive certification in CPR, first aid and Stop the Bleed. "It's not easy to do," she said after laying down her first weld. "I'm hoping this will benefit me when I apply for jobs." In addition to gaining skills, Michael said the program has other benefits. As an incentive, each participant is paid $250 to attend the program. "It gives you different resources," she said. "Everything I've had an issue with, Joe (Timbrook) has given me a resource."

Timbrook is director of career development for the growth council. The current group of 13 adults is the eighth cohort. Since the program began in July 2020, 80 adults have completed the training. Timbrook said factors driving the creation of the program were the county's shortage of skilled workers and a goal of making the NLCC a resource for the entire community and not just high school students. "This building wasn't being used much for adults," Timbrook said. "It has everything we need and the instructors do a great job."

About half of the participants adults are justice involved and were referred to the program by Lawrence County Probation. Others are adults who want to upgrade their skills. George Troxel of Mitchell has been welding since he was 12. Now 22, he said he likes to weld and hopes that by improving his skills, he can get a job at In-Fab or CAP. In addition to the skills class, he is also working to get his High School Equivalency.

Monday night, Matt Olson, construction trades instructor, guided adults making a double-seated bench. Jerrod Fields carefully took measurements before using a saw to make cuts in the wood. "I'm doing this to broaden by experience for different jobs. I'm disabled from a motorcycle wreck, but I can work part time," he explained. He also recently bought a house and having some carpentry skills will help with projects. Olson said the adults in his class learn how to use a tape measure, make wood cuts, read a blueprint, tool safety and how to work as a team, which is greatly needed in construction. By having good knowledge of the different board sizes, types of tools and cuts, Olson said the participants could definitely qualify for an entry-level construction job. For the adults who have struggled to find jobs or had brushes with the law, the program is invaluable. "So many people have counted them out but there's nothing different about them from anyone else, they just made a mistake," Olson said. "With each group, I see growth and an excitement for learning."

Each session culminates with a celebration and refreshments. This session's graduation is Thursday and will include visits and remarks from Lawrence County Prosecutor Sam Arp and Lawrence Superior Court II Judge Robert Cline. The program is funded by the LCWC, Duke Energy and Lawrence County Community Foundation. The growth council offers the training session about four times a year. For more information, contact Timbrook: 812-583-1095 or send email to joe@lawrencecountygrowth.com.