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La. Hostess employees prepare to retool

Bankrupt Hostess Brands is preparing to lay off its workforce of 18,500 employees. In Louisiana, 420 workers are looking toward their next move. The Louisiana Workforce Commission held a series of orientation sessions for the 200 Alexandria-area Hostess employees this week. Rapid Response manager Greg Anders said turnout was much higher than usual.

"We contribute it to the high visibility of the layoff, specifically the national media attention surrounding the layoffs at Hostess Brands," Anders said.

Most workers held bakery production line jobs. Anders said their skills are transferable.

"We're doing a lot of outreach to potential employers in the area to make them aware of this layoff," Anders said. "We're hoping they bring to the table jobs that would mirror skill sets of these workers."

A Louisiana Workforce Commission orientation will be held Dec. 6 at the Bossier Business and Career Solutions Center. Anders said in the Shreveport-Bossier City area, 25 workers are impacted by the Hostess Brands closure.