Nearly 30 regional employers joined One Acadiana’s Skilled Trades Industry Roundtable on October 31 to share workforce challenges, exchange strategies, and identify opportunities to strengthen the region’s talent pipeline.
The Industry Roundtable series is a cornerstone of One Acadiana ConnectEd, giving employers a direct role in shaping the region’s talent development efforts. Each session focuses on a major sector — Healthcare, Information Technology, Manufacturing, or Skilled Trades — and creates space for business leaders to discuss hiring needs, skill gaps, and emerging trends. Educators and workforce partners attend as observers and collaborators and use these insights to strengthen programs and student pathways.
This quarter’s discussion, facilitated by Sean VanCourt of Rudick Construction Group, centered on practical solutions for ongoing labor shortages, evolving skill requirements, and ways to strengthen collaboration between employers and education partners. Employers highlighted the importance of coachability, communication, and mentorship in workforce readiness, along with the need for flexible training models, such as apprenticeships and night classes, that fit the realities of their job sites.
As the Acadiana region continues to grow, these employer-led conversations are helping One Acadiana and its partners align resources and strategies with real-world workforce needs.
Interested in participating in next year’s Industry Roundtable series? Complete the 2026 Roundtable Interest Form.