For Immediate Release
January 4, 2018

Contact:
LAX Public Relations
(424) 646-5260

(Los Angeles, CA) Los Angeles World Airports (LAWA) is proud to announce the schedule for the second HireLAX Apprenticeship Readiness Program class. A partnership with Los Angeles Trade Technical College, Los Angeles Southwest College, and the Los Angeles/Orange Counties Building and Construction Trades Council, this workforce development program prepares local residents for skilled craft labor careers to support the multibillion-dollar capital improvement program at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX). For those interested in applying to join the class, a mandatory orientation will be held at 8:30 a.m. on Saturday, January 20, at Southwest College. The eight-week program begins on Monday, February 5, at 7:00 a.m.

"At LAX, we serve the world – but we are also focused on our local community and have committed to strong local hire requirements for our construction and modernization efforts," said Samson Mengitsu, Chief Operating Officer, LAWA. "Our HireLAX program provides training and opportunities to local workers who want to take part in modernizing LAX and building our next chapter. We hope that people will embrace this opportunity and join us on orientation day."

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 program trains local residents to earn these jobs. Under the HireLAX framework, program graduates will be connected with union apprenticeship programs and contractors, so they can begin their construction careers at LAX.

On November 3, 2017, the first class of HireLAX students graduated. These 26 graduates, who started in early September, were selected to participate out of an initial 100 who attended a mandatory orientation in August. The graduating 26 reflected the diversity of the local community, and included 42% from Inglewood; 19% female; 65% African American; 31% Hispanic; and 46% previous or current involvement with the criminal justice system. On graduation day, nine of the students had already been sponsored for jobs by a union or company, and four others have since accepted construction positions.

The HireLAX 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 LAWA PLA and the HireLAX Apprenticeship Readiness Program are managed by Pasadena-based Parsons Corporation. The nonprofit Flintridge Center is providing recruitment and case management assistance for the program.

Those interested in participating in the HireLAX program must attend a mandatory orientation and participate in an application process. The mandatory program orientation and registration will be held on Saturday, January 20 at Southwest College. Those with questions should contact Christina Watkins at (424) 646-7192 or cwatkins@lawa.org.

Individuals can register for the program orientation online at the following link: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/hirelax-apprenticeship-readiness-program-arp-orientation-tickets-41577837431.

Click HERE for downloadable flier

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’ 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 fund.  

For more information about LAX, please visit www.flyLAX.com rel="noopener noreferrer" or follow on Twitter @flyLAXAirport, rel="noopener noreferrer" on Facebook at www.facebook.com/LAInternationalAirport, rel="noopener noreferrer" and on YouTube at www.YouTube.com/laxairport1. Information about LAX’s ongoing multi-billion-dollar LAX Modernization rel="noopener noreferrer" Program, as well as tips and shortcuts to help navigate LAX during construction, are available at www.LAXisHappening.com.  

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.