Wednesday, March 19, 2008

Want to know where the jobs are? Just follow Goodwill.

Research in the region shows that future employment opportunities are in: healthcare, information technology, administrative/clerical and, importantly, hospitality/retail.

Goodwill Industries of Greater Detroit, Wayne County Community College, the American Hotel and Lodging Educational Institute and CVS/Pharmacy are coordinating the Detroit Hospitality/Retail Career Center funded by the Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Growth and Detroit Workforce Development Department. START is a Skillls, Tasks, and Results Training for participants seeking careers in retail, hospitality and lodging. Our students receive 180 hours of classroom and hands-on instruction covering all aspects of hotel operations, skills-based training 12 hospitality and retail positions, instruction in guest services, professionalism and safety, industry-recognized certification upon completing the program, as well as 18 Continuing Education Units. Employers receive free recruitment and pre-screening, criminal background checks, drug screening, accommodations for interviewing and employment consultation. There is an expanded labor pool, with employee assistance services, reduce employee turnover, work opportunity tax credits, targeted jobs tax credits and a diverse applicant pool.


Detroit mirrors the national in moving toward a service economy. With all our all our new hotels, new restaurants and new development, Goodwill is meeting the community’s needs with trained hospitality and retail employees. This program is good for all our employer partners and good for the people we serve. Once again, we are playing to our strength – preparing the workforce for today’s jobs….trained, trusted and ready to work.