Jump to: Labor Force • Representative Employers • Wages • Employment Training • Education

Meeting the workforce needs of a diverse business base is one of Morehouse Parish’s greatest offerings to companies seeking opportunities for growth.  Area workers are dedicated to quality, finding satisfaction within their jobs, and adopting a loyal, pro-company point of view. 

A fine example of this dedication is the former workers of the recently closed International Paper plant who kept the plant operating for another two years in 2007 by offering reduced wages/benefits and assisting with streamlining operational costs.   Some of these same workers are available to meet a multitude of workforce needs.  

Employers such as Jireh Plastics & Assemblies that modeled its production system after Toyota have found the talent needed to grow as a supplier for Toyota plants in North America.   

The highly skilled include machinists, molders, processors, welders, mechanics and other technicians that have experience in paper manufacturing, specialty chemicals, plastic injection molding, wood molding, and industrial fabrication and maintenance.   

A 2009 assessment of the workforce in Morehouse Parish was conducted, which concluded the following. Read the Executive Summary of the study.

EMPLOYMENT TRAINING
Louisiana FastStart, the state’s new company and job specific training for business modeled after the Georgia’s award- winning program, will be implemented in late 2009.  This is a state-funded economic development incentive free-of-charge for companies locating or expanding in Louisiana.  The program will streamline the current job training process to incorporate specific company needs to develop a curriculum for each company who then becomes owner of the program.  Companies will work directly with the technical college system industry-specific staff in this process.

Incumbent Workforce Training Program
The Louisiana Incumbent Worker Training Program is designed to benefit business and industry by assisting in skill development of existing employees and Increasing employee productivity and growth of the company. Both are expected to result in the creation of new jobs, the retention of jobs that otherwise may have been eliminated, and an increase in wages for the trained workers.

EDUCATION

Technical and Community Colleges
Bastrop has two technical college campuses of the Louisiana Technical and Community College System, which offer degree and certificate programs as well as customized workforce training for businesses.   The Bastrop Campus has an expanded welding program that serves area metal fabrication businesses.  The two campuses are a part of Region 8 consisting of seven campuses offering welding, nursing, computer technology, biomedical technology, industrial maintenance, office systems, industrial instrumentation, and other valuable programs to serve the workforce development needs.

Source:   Louisiana's Technical and Community College System; Louisiana Board of Regents, 2009.

College/University
* within 60 miles of Bastrop

Source:  University of Louisiana System, 2009.

Research Base
University of Louisiana at Monroe, Pharmacy School
Louisiana Tech University, Center for Biomedical Engineering & Rehabilitation Sciences
Louisiana Tech University, Institute for Micro Manufacturing
Louisiana Tech University, Center for Applied Physics Studies (CAPS)

Learn more about the workforce in Morehouse Parish and the value they could add to your company from the details on our web site.  

Resources
Morehouse Parish Schools -  Thirteen K-12 schools with nearly 5,000 enrolled in the Morehouse Parish School System. 
Louisiana Workforce Commission-  Louisiana’s labor department oversees the workforce training programs and coordinates with the technical college campuses to develop the most appropriate curriculum for existing and new businesses.
Morehouse/Northeast Louisiana Technical College Campuses -  Region 8 consists of 8 campuses including the Bastrop Campus adjacent to the Bastrop Memorial Airport.  Programs include welding, nursing, computer technology, biomedical technology, industrial maintenance, office systems, and industrial instrumentation.
Louisiana Department of Education    Louisiana school accountability programs, directory of primary and secondary schools and more.
Louisiana Board of Regents   State colleges and universities including enrollment, graduation, and other statistics. 
Louisiana Community and Technical College System  Overview and links to Louisiana’s community and technical colleges.