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HireLAX apprenticeship readiness program celebrates milestone with its latest graduating cohort

Airports

Boeing 777X | The Boeing Company

By Sky Industry News

Mar 29, 2024

Los Angeles World Airports' (LAWA) HireLAX Apprenticeship Readiness Program has celebrated its 425th graduate and the completion of its 19th cohort. The program, which began in 2017, aims to prepare individuals for careers in construction and trade roles. To date, it has successfully placed 285 graduates into these fields, collectively earning over $17.5 million.

The recent graduation ceremony recognized 27 students, with a diverse representation including 19% women, 48% Hispanic or Latino, 48% Black or African American, and 19% with prior involvement in the criminal justice system. These graduates are now equipped to pursue opportunities in construction and trades.

Los Angeles City Councilmember Hugo Soto-Martínez expressed his support for the program: “When my mom got a union job at LAX, it changed my family's life. It’s heartwarming to see the HireLAX graduates on the road to that same experience while filling critical roles in our city.”

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John Ackerman, CEO of LAWA, highlighted the dual impact of the program: “As we invest billions of dollars to transform our airports, we can also transform lives through new economic pathways and local investment. HireLAX uplifts members of our communities by providing them with family-supporting wages and rewarding jobs while also helping us meet our need for skilled labor to modernize our airports.”

HireLAX is a collaborative effort involving LAWA, Los Angeles Southwest College, and the Los Angeles/Orange Counties Building and Construction Trades Council. The initiative offers an eight-week training program covering essential skills such as construction best practices and OSHA standards.

In November 2020, the Los Angeles Board of Airport Commissioners extended LAWA's Project Labor Agreement (PLA) by ten years until 2030. This agreement emphasizes hiring local workers and reaching out to underrepresented minorities and women.

Support services are provided by entities like America's Job Centers alongside nonprofits such as Flintridge Center and 2nd Call. More information about the program can be found at bit.ly/LAWA_HireLAX.