Kirkwood offers training for laid-off workers

CEDAR RAPIDS - Iowa has one of the lowest unemployment rates in the nation, but Eastern Iowa employers have been laying off workers.

In response, Kirkwood Community College has allocated special funding to provide free skills courses to match in-demand jobs.

'Many companies still need workers,” said Carla Ahdorf, Kirkwood skills to employment director, in a news release. 'Our free classes prepare dislocated workers, or anyone needing a job for that matter, to fill these positions.”

Kirkwood has identified the skills needed by employers. In Iowa City, courses were offered recently to improve basic computer skills such as typing, using the internet and email.

Microsoft Word and Excel training also has been expanded.

Ten-hour job site safety training and construction training information sessions are offered at the Kirk-wood Continuing Education and Training Center in Cedar Rapids.,

Certification training for nurse aides, welders and office professionals begins next month through Kirkwood Pathways for Academic Career Education and Employment. The college offers the free training program in an effort to fill in-demand, middle-skill positions.

Kirkwood awarded 522 training certificates in 2016 and more than 300 people enrolled in pathway training. IowaWORKS, in partnership with Kirkwood, helped more than 700 dislocated workers find jobs since June.

'In just a matter of weeks, students have transformed their lives by taking advantage of our free training opportunities,” said Kim Becicka, Kirkwood vice president of training and outreach services. 'We do what we can to strip away barriers impeding career success.”