![]() |
News Release
ETA News Release: [06/08/2004]
Contact Name: Lorette
Post
Phone Number: (202) 693-3984
WASHINGTONU.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 Presidents 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, todays 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 Labors 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 Presidents 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.
# # #
_________________________________________________________________
|