The workforce has shown incredible resilience and adaptability in recent years, especially in the face of the disruptive effects of the pandemic. This period of upheaval has brought about significant changes in the way we work, challenging traditional ideas about work dynamics, schedules, and settings. In response, people have reevaluated their career priorities, leading to an increase in early retirements, gig work, and remote employment arrangements.However, amidst these changes, a pressing issue has emerged: persistent workforce gaps, particularly among people of color and low-income individuals. Despite a growing demand for labor, many job positions remain unfilled.
Through a series of grants in 2021 and 2022, the Fund and the Foundation empowered CBOs to implement a range of projects to increase enrollment in training programs. These initiatives, spanning from career counseling to skills training and job placement services, provided valuable insights. This report encapsulates the learnings from these efforts across four key categories:
- The importance of trust and relationships.
- The necessity of cross-organization collaboration.
- The value of improved information sharing.
- The effectiveness of community-specific solutions.
The report concludes with recommendations across stakeholders to promote further success in utilizing CBOs as agents for change. These recommendations include investing more heavily in casework management, lengthening funding periods for more impactful results, and crosstraining CBO staff to bridge workforce gaps and empower individuals to secure sustainable employment opportunities.