St. Tammany News

It's an employee's market.

More jobs are available on the Northshore than there are available employees. In addition to the workforce shortage, qualified employees are even more difficult to find. This was the topic of a recent St. Tammany West Chamber of Commerce round table discussion.

The purpose of the round table is to offer real-world solutions to common problems facing employers. One problem faced in today's market is how to maintain a qualified and motivated workforce.

In the next three to four years, 3,000 workers will be needed in the healthcare industry in St. Tammany, according to Jan Roberts of the St. Tammany Healthcare Alliance and the Chamber's workforce development executive director.

This figure includes all workers in hospitals from housekeeping to nurses to different types of technicians. Many in the field also work outside of the hospital environment in private practices, home health care and nursing homes, according to Roberts.

Many opportunities for training in these fields are available at little or no cost to a student through the "Careers That Heal" program. Ironically, it's difficult to get students to take advantage of these programs, even when it's at no cost to them, Roberts said.

In addition, Roberts said the St. Tammany Parish School System also offers training in some healthcare areas, also at no cost to high school students. These courses help students achieve certifications in particular areas so that upon completion, they are qualified and certified to perform certain allied healthcare jobs.

Denise Barnes, senior superintendent of instruction for the St. Tammany Parish School Board, said many programs are available, all of which lead to jobs that pay more than minimum wage. Students can be certified as certified nursing assistants, first responders, medical terminology and in EMT. In addition, Barnes said if a student gets their CNA, EKG and phlebotomy certifications, they can receive a certification in patient care. The school system also offers a certification in pharmacy tech. This leads to work as a pharmacist assistant working with a licensed pharmacist.

Barnes said many of these fields offers students the opportunity to explore options that do not require a four-year college degree to achieve a career goal. In addition, students can also work at these higher paying jobs while pursuing a four-year degree, if they so choose.

Not everyone wants a four-year college degree. Instead, Delgado offers many options for careers involving associate degrees or certifications.

The round table discussions also covered the problems of those re-entering the workforce. Many people find they cannot afford to retire and need to supplement retirement income. Other older workers change their careers and need additional skills, including work with computer software and newer equipment.

The Chamber roundtable sessions offer a forum to exchange ideas, discuss problems and challenges businesses face and share ideas for solutions, according to Allsion Greffenius, spokesperson for the Chamber. By sharing and exchanging ideas and solutions about the workforce, participants can get a better idea of how widespread the problems are and help develop solutions.