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As your workforce experts, the South Dakota Department of Labor and Regulation offers a vast variety of training and education programs to help ensure employers have the skilled workforce needed and to help individuals realize their potential as employees.

Education and Job Training Opportunities

The Department of Labor and Regulation is prepared to adapt and customize its education and job training programs to meet the needs of participants and the changing demands of employers.

Customized Skill Training offers participants classroom and on-site instruction in high demand occupations. Training is customized using a high level of business involvement. Businesses are asked to sponsor the training, provide input into curriculum design, establish participant screening requirements and commit to hiring participants who complete the required training. Recent skill-training classes have trained clerical workers, welders, truck drivers, casino workers and computer operators.

On-The-Job Training (OJT) provides an opportunity for individuals who may be lacking job skills to get them. This program provides businesses an opportunity to train workers in the specific skills, methods and work habits used in their establishment. Participants earn wages while they're being trained, and then remain employed in a permanent job once their training is completed. A training agreement is negotiated to outline the responsibilities of the business, the participant and the Department of Labor and Regulation.

Downsizing can also be addressed through job training programs. Occasionally, economic conditions force businesses into the uncomfortable position of having to lay off workers or close a plant. But the dislocated worker program can help by providing counseling and retraining service to the workers who lose their jobs. The program offers a rapid response team to handle specific dislocation projects and outreach efforts. Local Department of Labor and Regulation offices and Career Learning Centers can also provide help for individual dislocated workers. Such assistance includes early readjustment services, basic readjustment services and retraining programs. The program helps workers manage a smooth transition to other gainful employment.

By training participants for jobs with advancement possibilities, Workforce Training Opportunities help adults and youth overcome employment barriers and gain skills in order to find jobs and increase their earnings.

Workforce Training Opportunities works with those who:

• have lost their jobs because of shifts in the economy or changing consumer demands.
• need to learn new technologies to find a good job.
• are determined to make the break from public assistance and support themselves and their families.

Working with you, a plan will be designed to allow full use of the available services, such as:

• Employment counseling to help you learn about jobs and what career opportunities may exist for you with the right education and training.
• Job-search coaching so you can:
  • write a resume and job applications that show off your skills
  • prepare appropriate answers to interview questions
  • learn the best ways to follow up with job contacts
• Training opportunities with local employers, community training programs, technical institutes, etc.

Workforce training services are for individuals needing extra assistance to obtain and maintain training and employment. Priority is given to those who belong to families that can't afford to pay for advanced training. However, Workforce training is not an entitlement program, and selection for participation is also based on your individual education and employment needs, interests, abilities and motivation.

Download print resources (Adobe .pdf format*) for information on opportunities available to indiviuals from the Department of Labor and Regulation:

Helping You Meet Your Workforce Needs brochure
"Let us help you unlock your potential" flyer
"We'd like to introduce you to a great opportunity: Workforce
   Training Programs" flyer
Workforce Training Means Opportunity brochure

Visit your local Department of Labor and Regulation office for more information and details.

Workforce training programs and activities are equal opportunity programs, and auxiliary aids and services are available upon request to individuals with disabilities.

View South Dakota's highest demand occupations compiled from information taken from statewide Employer Needs Survey and workforce needs projections (in Adobe .pdf format*).

If you cannot find the information you are seeking among the topics listed to the left, please contact us.

South Dakota Department of Labor and Regulation
Kneip Building
700 Governors Drive
Pierre, SD 57501-2291
Phone: 605.773.5017
Fax: 605.773.4211
e-mail

*Opening and printing Adobe .pdf files requires Adobe Acrobat Reader. Click here as needed to download the free Adobe Acrobat Reader.

For specific information on a program, division or council, click on one of the following links: