More than 100 Toledo area employers are using a new resource for entry-level labor positions. It's called supported employment, a system of job recruitment and on-the-job training provided by Lott Industries.

Supported employment fills basic entry level positions, provides reliable employees, and furnishes no-cost on-the-job training,

Lott Industries can provide workers to perform labor-intensive tasks such as stocking, light assembly and clerical.

Lott Industries is the not-for-profit corporation that provides employment opportunities for persons in Lucas County, Ohio with mental retardation and developmental disabilities.

The individual in supported employment is placed in a job, then trained while on the job by a professional job coach. During training, the job coach works to ensure that the job gets done to an employer's standard of quality.

This service begins on the employee's first day on the job to guarantee no interruption in an employer's routine and to assure that job duties are completed correctly from the start. The high costs of retraining workers for high turnover entry level positions are eliminated.