Programs powering the future workforce

The Baton Rouge area has become especially adept at connecting potential workers with the training they need and the employers that need them. Various partnerships among private industry, educational institutions and other industry groups have created a host of training options for the area’s workforce.

Louisiana Economic Development FastStart

LED’s FastStart program is a Louisiana-based, free workforce development initiative that provides customized employee recruitment, screening and training for new and expanding companies in the state. It focuses on a “Recruit, Train and Sustain” approach to help businesses quickly build a qualified workforce for jobs in sectors such as manufacturing, IT and logistics. 

Baton Rouge Community College training partnerships

Baton Rouge Community College’s craft training partnerships with the industrial sector fill a vital need in the Capital Region. For example, the North Baton Rouge Industrial Training Initiative with ExxonMobil (pictured above) provides tuition-free training for residents in high-demand skilled trades such as welding, electrical and pipefitting. Additionally, BRCC’s process technology program collaborates with Formosa Plastics, Dow and ExxonMobil to develop a curriculum that prepares graduates for immediate employment and internships. 

River Parishes Community College training partnerships

River Parishes Community College in Gonzales partners with Dow, BASF, Shell and other owners to provide customized training, internships and certifications for students and businesses. These partnerships provide a direct pipeline to high-demand jobs, ensuring graduates have the skills needed for careers in manufacturing and energy. 

High school technical academies

In Ascension Parish, they call it “pathways for a ‘hire’ education”: a career and technical education opportunity with industry-based credentials, giving students a jump-start on additional education or practical training for a well-paying career upon graduation in fields such as architecture, construction, health sciences and manufacturing. In Livingston Parish, Walker High School students have gained practical job skills via school-based enterprises and Jobs for America’s Graduates Program, including working at The Green and White Cookie Site and campus locations of Neighbors Federal Credit Union and Papa John’s (pictured above). The East Baton Rouge Parish School System’s career and technical education program offers various career clusters and jump-start programs that lead to industry certifications. General opportunities in the program include business, IT, digital design, health sciences and advanced manufacturing. 

LSU and Southern University workforce initiatives

Last year, LSU and Southern University teamed up to increase access to high-performance computing, with the goal of building a bigger user community around HPX, a software library that developers can use to create faster, more powerful and energy-efficient applications. Since then, the team has trained more than 50 students and faculty who’ve already begun training others. Additionally, student-focused programs such as the LSU Olinde Career Center and collaborations with the Greater Baton Rouge Industry Alliance are connecting students with energy sector jobs.  

State and corporate programs

The Incumbent Worker Training Grant, managed by the Louisiana Workforce Commission, is a state program that helps companies upskill their current employees to prevent layoffs and ensure they have the necessary skills for advancement. 

Associated Builders and Contractors –
Pelican Chapter craft training program

The Associated Builders and Contractors – Pelican Chapter’s craft training program offers vocational training and registered apprenticeship programs in various trades, including electrical, heavy equipment, instrumentation and welding. Programs vary in length and format, with many requiring at least a two-night-per-week commitment. 

Labor union sponsored training

Numerous labor unions in the Capital Region provide high-quality, hands-on apprenticeship programs that combine paid on-the-job training with classroom instruction. These programs are designed to develop skilled journey-level workers and offer benefits such as competitive wages, health insurance and pension plans.

IN CONVERSATION

“By partnering with industry and education leaders, we’re creating real opportunity for local residents and ensuring that Louisiana’s industrial workforce remains among the most skilled and sought-after in the nation.”
—David Helveston, president and CEO, ABC Pelican Chapter

“From supporting STEM education in East Baton Rouge classrooms to hosting free STEM Saturdays for K-12 students and families, we aim to spark interest in the career pathways that make our industry possible. Our high school internship program offers students paid experience at our facilities, while our support for the North Baton Rouge Industrial Training Initiative at BRCC provides no-cost training and job placement support in fields like welding, instrumentation and process technology.”
—Kate Lightfoot, ExxonMobil’s Integrated Complex manager, Baton Rouge

This story is part of Business Report‘s Capital Assets edition. Get the entire 2026 Capital Assets edition.