A new partnership will give free job prep classes to Oʻahu residents impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Oʻahu Back to Work initiative is a partnership between the City and County of Honolulu and the University of Hawaiʻi.
Using funds from the federal CARES Act, the campaign offers free classes for 500 to 800 residents in high-demand areas such as healthcare and trades. More than 50 classes will be offered through UH’s community colleges either in-person or online from now until Dec. 17.
"It is limited to people whose employment has been impacted by the pandemic — so loss of employment, loss of hours, furlough, or self-employment, or your work was suspended or closed," said Amy Asselbaye, executive director of the city’s Office of Economic Revitalization.
"Additionally, we expanded eligibility for recent high school and college graduates. If you’re working part-time, or maybe you aren’t employed in your field of study, you are eligible to participate in this program," she added.
This initiative is the latest iteration of another program held last year which retrained unemployed workers into new fields.
But there are some changes this year, such as more internships and real-world experience.
Asselbaye said the program gives participants opportunities to help fill vacant positions with the city.
"We started with one category of jobs that right now has around 90 vacant positions. Now, some of the departments may not be ready to hire today for those 90 open positions, but we’re going to start training folks to be able to meet the qualifications for the assistant or clerical type of work in the city," Asselbaye told Hawaiʻi Public Radio.
Asselbaye said the Honolulu Police Department is also joining UH to hold an exam prep course — in order to help fill its job vacancies.
More information can be found at oahubacktowork.com
Free Job Prep Classes for Oʻahu Residents Impacted by Pandemic - Hawaiipublicradio
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