GOODWILL® CELEBRATES NATIONAL WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT MONTH
Throughout September Goodwill Industries of Southwest Florida (SWFL) is celebrating National Workforce Development Month — which recognizes the hard work and significant impact made by workforce professionals in advancing national and local economies today.
From résumé building and interview preparation to connecting job seekers to local employers and community colleges, Goodwill provides a range of services to help job seekers find good, sustainable jobs. Since Goodwill's inception, the revenue generated from the sale of donated items has helped fund job training and employment programs for individuals throughout Southwest Florida.
Employment Services We have six Community Resource Centers in Southwest Florida. These centers provide individual assistance to those in need. Our fully trained coordinators provide free classes in computer literacy, English as a Second Language, and Employability skills. They also help with ACCESS Florida, The Affordable Care Act, and VITA (which is free tax filing through the United Way). They assist with resume preparation, interviewing skills, assistance setting up an online employment profile for easy online application, and much more. But the first step in helping someone, is knowing what barriers are preventing them from moving forward. Our Opportunity Accelerator Program provides a streamlined pathway to assess, plan, and provide assistance in helping each person get the training or connected service needed to move forward.
Mobile CRC Transportation is a barrier that prevents many people from getting the help that they need. Goodwill’s Mobile Community Resource Center (CRC) brings needed services into under-served communities. The mobile unit is equipped with six computer workstations with internet access, and a wheelchair lift for accessibility.
Pathways to Work emphasizes individualized, person-centered outcomes aimed at achieving and maintaining employment in the community. The three areas of focus obtained through this service are: Employment Services, Supported Employment and Discovery. These services are available through referrals from the Florida Department of Vocational Rehabilitation.
At a time when millions of people across the nation are still looking for work, Goodwill SWFL is working to help people in our local community obtain the needed job skills and training to secure employment and obtain self-sufficiency and upward economic mobility. In 2023, Goodwill SWFL’s Mission services helped nearly 22,000 people throughout the local five-county area with job training and job placement services.
According to the U.S. Department of Labor’s latest jobs report, nationally, unemployment is at 4.1 percent, and wages are growing; however, 6.8 million remain unemployed and millions more across the country still struggle with underemployment and low wages. It’s a matter of access to workforce development and opportunity to overcome barriers to employment.
As an example of local workforce training, the Goodwill Community Resource Center in Lehigh Acres is hosting Employability Workshops on Wednesdays, computer skills training on Thursdays, and assistance with online job applications on Fridays.
Goodwill SWFL is committed to doing its part in responding to the gap in employment and skills training and supporting those individuals in Southwest Florida who face barriers to finding employment today.
To learn more, visit www.goodwillswfl.org
