Unfortunately, a high school diploma alone is not enough to guarantee a graduate can earn enough to support themselves and their families. Further education is necessary to earn a living wage. The MIT Living Wage Calculator, Living Wage Calculator (mit.edu), is the hourly rate that an individual in a household must earn to support themselves and their family. For one adult with zero children, an individual needs to earn $15.75 per hour to be in the living wage category. For one adult with 1 child, that number goes up to $34.96 per hour. The minimum wage in Arkansas is currently $11.00 per hour. In July 2023, Goodwill opened the new GTEC in Springdale, Arkansas, and immediately followed with the remodel of the Little Rock location to resemble the new Northwest Arkansas facility. Being in the capital city, Little Rock has many communities in need of Goodwill’s services. With the top industries experiencing workforce shortages, Goodwill’s GTEC can help narrow the workforce gap.
Given Goodwill’s mission to transform lives through education, training, and employment, many employers will benefit from the current pipeline of workers being produced - University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Arkansas Children’s Hospital, Lexicon Inc., Windstream, Bank OZK, Arkansas Heart Hospital, and Arkansas Electric Cooperative. Goodwill takes pride in partnering with the city to enhance the quality of life for Central Arkansas residents through education, training, and employment opportunities. The new GTEC plays a vital role in providing individuals with the necessary training and education to secure well-paying careers that pay a living wage. The Goodwill Career Services team already works with several employers in the area to help individuals attain employment: Arkansas Department of Corrections, ABM, Staffmark, American Guard Security Services, Employment Solutions, and Pulaski County Government. Goodwill partners with employers to provide qualified job candidates for jobs as welders, machine operators, security guards, warehouse workers, and maintenance workers. Solution To address the issue of Arkansans facing barriers to a high school diploma and skill development, it is necessary to remove the barriers that hinder the progress of so many people who need extra attention and guidance. Goodwill plays a crucial role in assisting nontraditional students by enabling them to earn their high school diploma and industry-recognized credential through wrap-around services designed to help create successful career pathways. Expanding our educational and training programs across the state, Goodwill can offer the same services in both parts of the state, including The Excel Center adult high school, The Academy trade school, reentry services and career services. These educational programs have already helped numerous individuals in Arkansas achieve their dreams of obtaining a high school diploma, earning industry-recognized credentials, and securing better job opportunities to support themselves and their families.
I found that there are ways to repackage my skills and try a new career while keeping the best of my past strengths. It’s been a fantastic experience. All the people that I work with have been great. Stan Whittlesey ACADEMY PHARMACY TECHNICIAN GRADUATE
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Unlocking Opportunities
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