A new global logistics program at Los Angeles Harbor College and Cal State Dominguez Hills will give those living in the shadow of the nation’s busiest seaport another pathway to a career in port-related industries and help the growing industry close a skills gap.

The new program, one of several educational efforts in the region, is intended to train the next generation of workers to run the port and supporting industries.

“Tapping into the expertise and knowledge of our local institutions of higher learning makes perfect sense for helping us build that capacity,” Gene Seroka, executive director of the Port of Los Angeles, said in a statement. “To effectively compete in a global maritime industry, we’ll need to continue building a highly trained workforce, matching relevant skills with the evolving needs of the maritime industry.”

An aging workforce is expected to drive job growth in Los Angeles County’s global trade and logistics industry, but many employers have difficulty finding qualified workers, found a report last year on the county’s labor force from JPMorgan Chase & Co.

Created over the past few months with the Port of Los Angeles, the program includes a new global logistics curriculum at Harbor College and an expansion of transfer opportunities between the college and Cal State Dominguez Hills, which has an existing global logistics and supply chain management track.

Harbor College will add a 17-unit certificate program in logistics and offer short-term training for entry-level warehouse jobs and supply-chain management.

“It’s very exciting. There is a big demand in this area,” said Priscilla Lopez, associated dean for economic and workforce development at Harbor College. “We have major employers that are coming to us and saying that it is hard to find people with skills that are ready to start, especially in the distribution warehouse area.”

Employers are looking for students who have people skills, can write, adapt to technology easily and can think critically, she said. One new piece of the program is short-term training that teaches students how to better deal with people. The class, called “bringing out the best in yourself at work,” uses a personality test to bring better self-awareness so workers can communicate better with others.

“There is a lot more technology that is involved in the supply chain and warehouse districts than there was even five to 10 years ago,” Lopez said. “It was not something my father or grandfather would have come in contact with.”

She said they are especially encouraging women to join the program. Only a third of the labor force is female, according to the report.

“Students will get on-the-job training. With the curriculum we have, they will be ready to enter Day One on the job,” she said.

The port also will offer 15 new internships — five for Harbor College students and 10 for those at CSUDH. The three entities are expected to sign a formal agreement Wednesday at a ceremony.

The plan came together a few months ago, after a meeting between Seroka and Willie Hagan, president of Cal State Dominguez Hills.

“There was an a-ha moment during the conversation between the executives,” said Naomi Goodwin, Hagan’s former chief-of-staff and interim vice president of administration and finance at the university. “It became very clear that this is something that Dominguez Hills can support.”

The schools will join the ranks of other institutions attempting to bolster the logistics workforce through training, certificate programs and degree tracks.

The profession offers a track for advancement and provides well-paying jobs for high- and middle-skilled workers. A logistics supply chain manager earns a median wage of $51 an hour, according to the report.

Earlier this year, the Port of Long Beach and the Long Beach Unified School District announced they would open the Port of Long Beach Academy of Global Logistics at Cabrillo High School.

The four-year program, like other small high school academies that specialize in professions such as law or health, is intended to help entering freshman interested in trade and logistics find a career pathway. It’s expected to open for the 2017-18 academic year, but the school will hold a soft launch this year as it redesigns the pre-existing Cabrillo Academy of Business.

Long Beach City College and Cal State Long Beach also have a global logistics and international trade program, helping to make it an easier transition for students interested in moving forward.