The Hawai‘i State Department of Labor and Industrial Relations (DLIR) has been hitting the road this summer, with Director Jade T. Butay at the helm, to honor high school graduates from the Ready to Work program. The program, aimed at prepping students for the real world, has been picking up speed across the state with celebrations popping up at schools like Kapolei and Roosevelt High Schools.
According to a recent release on the Governor of Hawaii's official website, these events are no small potatoes. They're a culmination of months of work by students, demonstrating what they've learned from internship experiences to resume workshops. The Ready to Work initiative emphasizes Competitive Integrated Employment, a fancy term for making sure students can snag jobs where they can work alongside a diverse range of employees.
"Watching these students grow in confidence and ability has been truly inspiring," Butay told the Governor's office. The approach of the program is all about synergy - bringing together schools, businesses, and state agencies to give these young adults a solid jumpstart into career life. It's an across-the-board effort to ensure they step out of high school with more than just a diploma in hand.
The Department of Labor and Industrial Relations’ (DLIR) participation highlights its continued efforts to promote an inclusive workforce across Hawai‘i. The recent end-of-year celebration recognized the achievements of students in the Ready to Work program, which connects high school graduates with real-world job skills. Supported by schools, state agencies, and local businesses, the program aims to help graduates transition directly into the state’s workforce.
