Drug testing has been a barrier to local hiring

There are jobs available for the taking, but not enough qualified applicants in Louisiana. At least not enough sober applicants in many cases.

Michael Hecht, President and CEO of GNO, Inc says there are a bevy of jobs coming online in the state of Louisiana. However, one big barrier to hiring in-state workers is passing a drug test. That’s especially true of some of the larger companies coming online in the state.

“If we’re being honest about this, if you talk to some of our industrial companies, there are individuals they would like to hire … but, they can’t pass the drug test,” Hecht illustrated. This is just one of a spate of issues facing Louisiana companies looking for local talent, but one that is becoming increasingly prevalent.

Hecht worries that the lack of qualified local workers within these companies could lead to a hollowing out of the state’s job market as out of state workers fill those roles in Louisiana. “That’s the difference between prosperity and, to some degree, being economically colonized,” he emphasizes.