Where to find free or low-cost job training

Daniel Bortz

Let’s get the bad news out of the way first: There’s a real skills gap in the job market. A whopping 92 percent of executives said they think American workers aren’t as skilled as they need to be, and nearly half feel workers are missing out on growth opportunities, a recent survey by worldwide employment agency Adecco Staffing found.

The good news? There are free or low-cost job-training opportunities that can help you not only gain new skills but also sharpen the skills that you currently have. Of course, to take advantage of these programs, you need to know who is offering them. Check out this overview of where you can find free or low-cost job training.

Uncle Sam

Sponsored by the U.S. Department of Labor, One- Stop Career Centers provide job training for people at different stages in their career, including internships, apprenticeships, part-time jobs, and full-time jobs.

These training centers, which operate in all 50 states, offer scholarships and financial aid to subsidize the education costs that are already relatively low when compared to private-sector career training services.

Also, the program’s website has an Occupation Profile search tool that lets you view what types of skills, certifications, and experience employers are looking for in a number of industries.

The Labor Department also offers a Trade Adjust- ment Assistance program that provides workers in manufacturing, farming, and production who lose their jobs to overseas compe- tition with up to 104 weeks of paid job training and reme- dial education — as well as weekly cash payments for up to a year after their unemployment benefits run out.

To qualify, a petition must be filed with the Department of Labor by or on behalf of a group of workers who have lost or may lose their jobs or experienced a reduction in wages as a result of foreign trade. Once the petition is approved, individuals are eligible for TAA training and benefits.

Moreover, the Labor Department’s website lists hundreds of apprentice- ship programs nationwide, ranging from chef to dental assistant to pipe fitter. You won’t get rich off of these programs, which aren’t subsi- dized by the government, but you’ll hone your skills, gain hands-on experience, and have a leg up when searching for a permanent job.

Higher education

Many two- and four-year colleges and trade schools offer graduates job training either for free or at a low cost; you may even be able to take these courses online. If you’re a college grad, check with your alma mater’s alumni relations or career services department to see what training oppor- tunities are available to you. Private industry participants with free men

One of the benefits of being tors in their field, across 62 a member of a union or proindustries. (Mentoring is fessional association is that offered in person, via email, these organizations often or by video.) The organizaoffer free or subsidized job tion also offers free or lowtraining. Contact your union cost local business workrep or association’s board to shops and webinars. see what programs you’re ■ Monster: Our partners eligible for. at Skillshare offer more than

You can also find skills 10,000 online classes to help training at these organiza- you brush up on Excel, Photions: toshop, public speaking, and

■ Goodwill: The commuother skills. You can learn at nity-based nonprofit offers your own pace from your free job training focused on computer or mobile device. equipping professionals with The best part? Monster memthe skills and certifications bers get a sweet deal: three they need to find work in months for $0.99. today’s competitive labor market.Training programs Having valuable skills is just can vary depending on where one part of the job search; you live, since each state you also need to get noticed operates its own Goodwill by employers that are hircenter. Contact your local ing for your specific area of Goodwill organization to expertise. Need some help find what skills training ser- standing out from the crowd? vices are available to you. Join Monster today. As a mem

■ AARP Foundation: ber, you can upload up to Aimed at helping low-in- five versions of your résumé. come, unemployed individ- Recruiters search Monster uals aged 55 or older find every day looking for peowork, AARP’s Senior Comple to fill open positions. You munity Service Employment could make their job easier Program (SCSEP) matches eli- — and they could make your gible job seekers with local job search easier, too. nonprofits and public agencies that offer skills training courses. However, the foundation currently operates in only 21 states.

■ SCORE: In conjunc- tion with the U.S. Small

Business Administration,

SCORE provides entrepreneurs and small business owners — or those who want to own a business — with free career-education and business counseling. With more than 300 chapters through- out the U.S., SCORE pairs