The nation’s current unemployment rate is 6.9 percent, with millions out of work. Job training plays a vital role for many and the South Dakota Department of Labor has a new round of technical training for dislocated workers.
The Upskill Program helps eligible workers advance in their current field or train for a new one.
Aaron Morlock works with the South Dakota Department of Labor and Regulation. He’s project manager for SD Upskill.
Morlock says the partnership between the labor department and the state’s technical institutions was developed in response to the pandemic.
He says the program offers free education and training. “If you’ve been dislocated, There’s an opportunity to obtain a credential – even if you already have a credential or you're going to post secondary education for the very first time – this is a great opportunity. Free college credits at little to no cost to you. I mean, the tuition is completely covered.”
Morlock says the program provides assistance for the general public and some financial stability for the state’s technical institutions.
He says this round of funding does have new time constraints.
“Last semester we had a lot more offerings because we were able to break it over the course of two semesters. Unfortunately in the second semester there’s only two technical colleges that were able to run a whole certificate program in a single semester, and that was Western Dakota Tech and Lake Area Technical College.”
Morlock says all programs are online and offer around 18 credit hours over one semester.
Information is available on the SD Upskill website. The deadline to apply is December 11th.