Honolulu Mayor Rick Blangiardi announced the City and County of Honolulu’s $5-million investment to create the Good Jobs Oʻahu initiative with the University of Hawaiʻi on August 3. These funds will support training for Oʻahu residents to seek higher paying jobs in industries that help diversify our economy.
Good Jobs Oʻahu increases funding for the statewide Good Jobs Hawaiʻi initiative already underway and will expand job training course offerings by the UH Community Colleges in healthcare, education, clean energy, skilled trades, creative industries and technology, as well as create pathways to careers with the City and County of Honolulu.
“Helping our neighbors get good jobs is a sound investment and absolutely vital for the well-being of our community,” said Blangiardi. “Good jobs that care for our people and our place are essential to creating a more equitable and diverse economy. I encourage eligible job seekers to look at the opportunities in Good Jobs Oʻahu and decide if these are career paths that meet their needs.”
Sign up for free fall training
Good Jobs Hawaiʻi was launched statewide in January 2023. In a coordinated effort with more than 300 employers, the UH Community Colleges have been offering free skills training and job placement support to more than 900 participants so far this year. More than 50 free training courses for this coming fall are now available for sign up.
“We are deeply grateful to the City and County of Honolulu for helping us expand opportunities for our kamaʻāina to qualify for high-quality jobs on Oʻahu,” said UH President David Lassner. “This important partnership will help us provide additional pathways to meet the compelling workforce needs of our Oʻahu businesses and industries.”
Oʻahu Back to Work trained 3,000
The City and County of Honolulu previously supported the UH Community Colleges workforce training programs through its Oʻahu Back to Work initiative in 2020 and 2021. More than 3,000 local residents were provided free skills training to help fill the growing employment gap on Oʻahu during the pandemic.
Honolulu City Council Chair Tommy Waters said, “I am excited that [Good Jobs Oʻahu] will provide more job opportunities for our local people, especially creating pathways to good city jobs during a time when filling vacant positions with skilled and trained residents is crucial. In addition, by investing in Good Jobs Hawaiʻi, we are investing in the future of Oʻahu, ensuring that our community members have the skills and opportunities they need to thrive in this economy. It’s about empowering our local people, strengthening our workforce, and building a resilient Oʻahu that is ready for the challenges and opportunities of the future.”
Additional support for the Good Jobs Hawaiʻi initiative is provided by government and philanthropic organizations including the U.S. Economic Development Administration, the U.S. Department of Education, Ascendium Education Group, the Harold K.L. Castle Foundation, the Hawaiʻi Community Foundation and the Hawaiʻi Workforce Funders Collaborative.
