Marcia Hultman

Cabinet Secretary

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Training Opportunities for Individuals

Workforce Training for Adults and Dislocated Workers

As your workforce partners, the Department of Labor and Regulation (DLR) 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.

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

Occupational Skills Training

On-the-Job Training (OJT)

Customized Skill Training

SD UpSkill

Occupational Skills Training

Occupational skills training includes both vocational education which is designed to provide individuals with the technical skills and information required to perform a specific job or group of jobs, and on-the-job training which teaches knowledge and skills while in the workplace.

Vocational Training

Vocational Training includes structured, competency-based activities, usually with a set curriculum or learning plan. It teaches the learner job specific skills needed to perform actual tasks and functions required by particular jobs or occupational clusters. Job specific skills may be provided through individual or group classroom training.

Programs lead to a certificate, diploma or degree recognized nationally or within an industry. Training providers must be approved by DLR and the Workforce Development Council. View a list of approved training providers and training programs.

On-the-Job Training (OJT)

An OJT is training provided by an employer to a paid participant while engaged in productive work in a job that:

  • Provides knowledge or skill essential to the full and adequate performance of the job; and
  • Provides reimbursement to the employer of up to 50 percent of the wage rate of the participant, for the extraordinary costs of providing the training and additional supervision related to the participant is being trained. The reimbursement takes into account the content of the training, the prior work experience of the participant, and the service strategy of the participant, as appropriate.

It is common the employer promises to hire the trainee upon successful completion of the training as part of the OJT agreement. To find out more about the OJT program, call 605.773.4133.

Customized Skill Training

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

SD UpSkill

SD UpSkill, is a partnership between the South Dakota Board of Technical Education and the Department of Labor and Regulation (DLR) that provides funding for eligible individuals to attend a certificate program at one of the state’s four technical colleges. Enrollment in this program comes with excellent case management and the full array of services DLR offers job seekers. Program length varies by program and by school.