CRANSTON – Working in conjunction with the Back to Work RI initiative, manufacturing, and training organization We Make RI has launched industrial sewing classes.

The goal, say organization leaders, is to fill 50 open positions by the end of the year, with textile manufacturing still facing a shortage of skilled labor.

“We work with several Rhode Island textile manufacturers and they always tell us the same thing: we need trained workers,” said Barbara Jackson, executive director, We Make RI. “We knew in the aftermath of COVID, there would be heavy job losses. Our goal is to match these unemployed workers with open positions at local sewing companies.”