The key to securing a career-path job is often education, be it a technical or professional certification, a high school diploma or a college degree. In Nevada, more than half of the available jobs require a post-secondary degree, while only 30% of adults over the age of 25 have one, according to the United Way of Southern Nevada.footnote1 Additionally, the state’s high school graduation rate lags the national average, leaving a large portion of the working-age population without a path to employment.footnote2
The College of Southern Nevada (CSN) in Las Vegas has made this underprepared workforce a priority through its commitment to provide job skills and educational support. This support includes English language coaching, high-school equivalency classes and training for certifications for in-demand professions. These comprehensive services help participants prepare for careers in industries such as health care, information technology, logistics, construction and other skilled trades.
The CSN program “Ability to Benefit” offers students who lack high school diplomas a pathway to entry level jobs via access to financial aid for adult education classes, as well as career training. “EmployNV One-Stop Hub,” a resource currently in development, will provide career training and employment help, fast-tracked admissions assistance, college counseling services and more. Funding from Bank of America supports both of these programs, as part of the bank’s $1.25 billion, five-year commitment to advance racial equality and economic opportunity.
