The Governor's New Initiative To Increase Jobs

This is the start of a three-year pilot program. The governor says many Arkansans don't realize college is attainable or they think good careers can only be found out of state. This new support system is supposed to tackle those problems.

Expanding the Arkansas works web site is already gaining interest.

Trakita Scott is unsure if respiratory therapy is exactly what she wants to do. She says the site will educate her about other careers out there.

"It gives the salary and it's easy to navigate," says Scott.

Along with the web site, Gov. Beebe announced additional help-43 career coaches placed in 21 counties to help high school students go to college and help unemployed and underemployed find careers.

The governor says school counselors and the Department of Workforce Services just can't do it all.

"They're overworked. Our teachers and our counselors are handed way more work than they should have been handed," says Gov. Beebe.

The governor is facing some hard facts about the state. Arkansas' average per capita household income is $37 thousand and that is $13 thousand less than the national average. Also, 17.5 % of Arkansans live in poverty compared to 13.3% of all Americans.

Former state senator Bill Walker is the director of Career Education, he says so many high school graduates and job seekers just don't know where to start and they need career coaches for support.

"You cannot be what you cannot see. Many of these kids never before had the opportunity to see or be exposed to options available to them," says Walker.

The state hopes the initiative will do several things like increase jobs, put more through college and raise the average income.

The career coaches will start in January. They'll work in counties with the most need or in areas where people don't make as much money and most people don't hold degrees.

The counties are Newton, Searcy, Stone, Sharp, Jackson, Poinsett, Mississippi, Woodruff, Crittenden, St. Francis, Monroe, Lee, Phillips, Desha, Chicot, Jefferson, Bradley, Ouachita, Nevada, Hempstead, and Lafayette.