These five strategies emerged from years of research and practice shows that when organizations combined knowledge of the worker or jobseeker with a deep understanding of a particular industry the chances for hiring and advancement were improved. In addition, by bringing employers together these workforce partnerships can understand and address the requisite skills of an entire industry, thereby implementing initiatives with broader impact.
Create Regional Funding Collaboratives
Regional funding collaboratives bring together government agencies, foundations, and other philanthropic organizations to target financial resources and strategic thinking on creating jobs and careers.
Organize Workforce Partnerships
Workforce partnerships create long-term relationships between employers and service providers. They offer job training and career supports that meet the needs of both employees and employers in industry sectors that are central to local economies. Each workforce partnership is different. Some are led by a local community college, others by an employer, some by organized labor, some by the local Workforce Investment Board, and others by community-based organizations.
Develop Strategies for Specific Industry Sectors
The National Fund approach is sector-specific. For example, the expectations of employers in advanced manufacturing are quite different than those of an employer in health care. By focusing on the sectors that are important to the local economy, workforce partnerships can help employers in a sector save money and resources by sharing training expertise and costs.
Build Career Pathways
The National Fund is working to create career pathways that, practically in a step-by-step fashion, offer entry-level workers and people seeking employment real opportunities for advancement to jobs that pay good wages. These career pathways are customized for local employers in each industry sector.
Coordinate Local Workforce Programs
The National Fund is working to align and coordinate the many programs, organizations, and funding sources that, together, make up a community’s approach to preparing people for new careers.
To read more about how this Approach is working continue to Impact >>