LAWA Launches Free Apprenticeship Readiness Program at Los Angeles Southwest College to Provide Construction Career Opportunities through LAX’s $14 Billion Construction Program; 8-Week Program Begins on September 11th

(Los Angeles, California – July 31, 2017) – Los Angeles World Airports (LAWA) has launched the HireLAX Apprenticeship Readiness Program in partnership with Los Angeles Trade Technical College, Los Angeles Southwest College, and the Los Angeles/Orange Counties Building and Construction Trades Council. The workforce development program will prepare local residents for skilled craft labor careers to support the $15 billion capital improvement program at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX). Contractors performing work on LAWA projects are expected to exceed 30 percent local participation with a workforce that reflects the diversity of Los Angeles.

“The HireLAX Apprenticeship Readiness program is a first of its kind collaboration, providing the local community with specialized training, and connecting participants with the contractors who will hire them to be part of the construction teams modernizing LAX,” said Samson Mengistu, Chief Operating Officer for Los Angeles World Airports. “With the HireLAX program, we provide a new way for the local community to take a key role in the re-imagining of LAX, by linking workers to immediate and long-term skilled jobs, and making availablethe training they need to be successful.”

The 8-week program at Los Angeles Southwest College begins on September 11, 2017. Participants will receive free training to prepare them for entrance to union apprenticeships. It also includes comprehensive case management to help participants develop soft skills and overcome barriers to employment such as lack of high school diploma or GED, transportation, childcare, homelessness, involvement in the criminal justice system, or lack of access to construction tools and personal protective equipment. Under the HireLAX framework, program graduates will be connected with union apprenticeship programs and contractors to begin their construction careers at LAX.

 “The Los Angeles Community College District is excited to partner with LAWA and the LA/OC Building and Construction Trades Council to expand career pathways for our students and residents of the LAX area and the City of Los Angeles,” said Sydney Kamlager-Dove, Board President, Los Angeles Community College District. “The HireLAX Apprenticeship Readiness Program will prepare diverse participants for rewarding careers in the construction industry while helping to fill the region’s ongoing need for skilled labor.”

The program was developed within the framework of LAWA’s Project Labor Agreement (PLA), which is a partnership between LAWA, its contractors and the local construction unions.  The PLA requires contractors and unions to refer local workers to the project, and outreach to persons who have not previously qualified to be employed on construction projects, especially minorities and women.

“The Council values its long-standing partnerships with LAWA and LACCD,” said Ron Miller, Executive Secretary of the LA/OC Building and Construction Trades Council.  “The HireLAX Apprenticeship Readiness program will prepare a diverse group of local community members for placement into union apprenticeships. After placement, they will continue to receive training both on-the-job and in the classroom, while earning prevailing wages and receiving health and retirement benefits.”

The LAWA Project Labor Agreement and the HireLAX Apprenticeship Readiness Program are managed by Pasadena-based Parsons Corporation.  The non-profit Flintridge Center is providing

recruitment and case management assistance for the program. 

About Los Angeles International Airport (LAX)

           LAX is the fourth busiest airport in the world, second in the United States, and was named one of Skytrax’s 2017 Top 10 Most Improved Airports.  LAX served more than 80.9 million passengers in 2016.  LAX offers 737 daily nonstop flights to 100 cities in the U.S. and 1,386 weekly nonstop flights to 88 cities in 44 countries on 73 commercial air carriers.  LAX ranks 14th in the world and fifth in the U.S. in air cargo tonnage processed, with more than 2.2 million tons of air cargo valued at over $101.4 billion.  LAX handled 697,138 operations (landings and takeoffs) in 2016. 

An economic study based on 2014 operations reported LAX generated 620,600 jobs in Southern California with labor income of $37.3 billion and economic output (business revenues) of more than $126.6 billion. This activity added $6.2 billion to local and state revenues and $8.7 billion in federal tax revenues.  The study also reported that LAX’s ongoing capital-improvement program creates an additional 121,640 annual jobs with labor income of $7.6 billion and economic output of $20.3 billion, $966 million in state and local taxes, and $1.6 billion in federal tax revenues.

            LAX is also the second most popular airport in the world to appear on Instagram according to wego.com. LAX is part of a system of two Southern California airports – along with Van Nuys general aviation – that are owned and operated by Los Angeles World Airports, a proprietary department of the City of Los Angeles that receives no funding from the City’s general fund.

          As a covered entity under Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act, the City of Los Angeles does not discriminate on the basis of disability and, upon request, will provide reasonable accommodation to ensure equal access to its programs, services, and activities.  Alternative formats in large print, braille, audio, and other forms (if possible) will be provided upon request.