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ETA News Release: [06/08/2004]
Contact Name: Lorette
Post
Phone Number: (202) 693-3984
U.S. Secretary of Labor Elaine L. Chao Announces $2.25
Million Grant to Train 44,000 Workers for Careers in High-Growth Retail
Industry
WASHINGTON—U.S. Secretary of Labor Elaine L. Chao today
announced a $2.25 million grant that will be used to train nearly 44,000
workers in the retail industry as part of the President’s High Growth Job Training Initiative. The
National Retail Federation Foundation (NRFF) will administer the grant.
“The retail industry is expected to add 2.1 million new jobs in the
next ten years,” said Secretary of Labor Elaine L. Chao. “This $2.25
million grant will provide necessary training and skills upgrades for workers
in the retail industry. In addition to sales associates and cashiers,
today’s retail industry careers encompass information technology,
marketing, communications, loss prevention, finance and merchandise sourcing.
This project will highlight the value of an industry-wide career ladder in this
dynamic field.”
Working with Department of Labor’s national hiring partners Toys
“R” Us and Saks Incorporated, the NRFF will create a comprehensive
cross-industry career ladder from sales associate through senior management and
develop a training model for each level in the career ladder to address
industry challenges including recruitment, retention and training. These two
hiring partners, contributing cash and in-kind contributions totaling over $9
million, were selected because each has already developed its own competency
training models and curricula.
Approximately 4,950 incumbent workers will be trained in
management-level positions, and an estimated 39,000 workers will be trained for
entry-level positions with opportunities for continual advancement in the
industry. With input from other retail outlets, an industry-wide model will be
developed and implemented nationally through One-Stop Career Centers, community
colleges and other retailers.
“The retail industry faces a variety of challenges in attracting,
training and retraining employees,” said Assistant Secretary of Labor for
Employment and Training Emily Stover DeRocco. “This grant will assist the
NRFF, working with Toys “R” Us and Saks, to develop industry-wide
training models and career ladders that can be used nationwide to address these
challenges.”
The President’s High
Growth Job Training Initiative is a strategic effort to better prepare
workers to take advantage of new job opportunities in high growth sectors of
the American economy. Through executive forums with leaders of expanding
industries, critical workforce gaps and issues are identified. Solutions are
then created in cooperation with employers, educational institutions and the
public workforce system.
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