Lowe’s launches new job, workforce training program, free for workers

MOORESVILLE – Lowe’s will begin a new program focused on education. According to a statement, the Mooresville-headquartered company has launched a program it believes will make it easier for some 300,000 company employees, both part-time and full-time, to participate in education programming without taking on debt.

The company said in its statement that it will provide more than 50 academic programs across 23 universities and learning providers through a “learning marketplace” offered by Guild Education.

These programs will be free for workers, and the statement said that they are “designed to help associates excel in their jobs today and build toward the careers of tomorrow within Lowe’s, including pathways into supply chain, logistics, data analytics, cybersecurity, technology and more.”

Lowe’s believes that the completion of one or more program may be twice as likely as a typical employee to receive a promotion, based on research conducted by Guild Education, the statement noted.

“At Lowe’s, we believe greater access to education leads to more opportunities, and our success is intertwined with our associates’ success and their ability to continuously learn,” said Janice Dupré, Lowe’s executive vice president of human resources. “This debt-free education offering is one of the many ways we’re working to help our associates reach their career potential while knocking down traditional barriers that often make it difficult for them to obtain a degree.”

Lowe’s to invest $100M in community impact projects through new program

Bolsters existing programs, efforts

Lowe’s also provides qualified workers direct payments of up to $2,500 annually for tuition assistance for more than 165 academic programs, the statement noted. And the company also recently announced a $9 million investment “to provide traditionally underserved students with greater access to higher education and pathways to future Lowe’s employment,” the company statement noted.

“With the persistent war for talent, it’s more critical than ever to invest in employees,” said Rachel Carlson, the CEO and co-founder of Guild Education in a statement. “By offering debt-free education and upskilling, Lowe’s is expanding their long-term strategic commitment to providing career pathways, skills and support that every worker needs to open doors to their dreams.”