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, nearly two-thirds of job openings this decade will require a post-secondary degree, according to the Georgetown University Center on Education and the Workforce.footnote1 Yet 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.
The support for the College of Southern Nevada is an example of Bank of America’s commitment to help advance racial equality and economic opportunity in local neighborhoods around the country. From entrepreneur funding and expanding home ownership to professional skills training and healthcare access, Bank of America continues to partner with innovative leaders to help communities implement solutions to society’s biggest challenges.