Harrisburg, PA (July 15, 2010) - Innovative, local approaches to preparing job seekers and workers for new careers, built on strong partnerships with employers, are delivering results for local economies, according to an evaluation of the
Pennsylvania Fund for Workforce Solutions and 21 other programs nationwide.
- 18,036 jobseekers and incumbent workers received training and career support, an increase of 286 percent from the year before;
- 9,735 participants received degrees or credentials, compared to 679 in 2008;
- 4,058 jobseekers secured jobs as a result of their participation, up from 893 in 2008;
- Of those who got jobs, 81 percent are working more than 35 hours per week.
Among the 22 National Fund sites, which also include Rhode Island and 20 metropolitan areas, the Pennsylvania Fund is unique in that it brings together foundations and United Ways in four regions of the Commonwealth - Pittsburgh, Philadelphia, Erie, and South Central Pennsylvania. In all of these regions, local projects supported by local philanthropy are helping to create new pathways into the middle class.They are also reinforcing Pennsylvania's bipartisan commitment to creating strong skill-development partnerships with employers in key industries, including health care and the green economy, construction and utilities, building services and hospitality.
In Erie, with funds from the Erie Community Foundation, the Northwest Healthcare Industry Partnership is test-driving a new approach that enables low-income community members to land entry-level health care jobs with great career opportunities.
"The orientation, assessment, and job shadowing provide information so that jobseekers can make good choices, and we can meet applicants who are interested in working at the hospital," said Ed Pietkiewicz, Human Resources Manager at Millcreek Community Hospital. "This progressive approach has really made a difference: we've already hired a number of applicants this year."
In Pennsylvania's electric, water, and gas utilities, the Keystone Utilities Partnership, with funds from The Foundation for Enhancing Communities, is a unique statewide effort that brings employers and unions together to address skill shortages and grow green jobs. In the past year, the Partnership leveraged a grant from the Pennsylvania Fund to identify 100 entry-level job openings at Pennsylvania American Water, PPL, UGI and in the IBEW Northeast Apprenticeship and Training lineworker program.
"These unionized jobs pay family-sustaining wages and include benefits," said Stu Bass, Director of the Keystone Development Partnership."Now, the Keystone Development Partnership is tapping labor and management subject matter experts to help design pre-employment training that gives new workers the skills to succeed."
In addition to investing in individual partnership projects, the Pennsylvania Fund brings industry-led partnerships together to learn from one another and to receive guidance that has helped Pennsylvania access $10 million in America Recovery and Reinvestment Act dollars for green "Pathways Out of Poverty" projects.
The Pennsylvania Fund has also been a champion for institutionalizing Pennsylvania's state investment in innovative workforce partnerships known as Industry Partnerships. The support of the Pennsylvania Fund, business leaders, and other workforce advocates contributed to the Industry Partnerships legislation receiving the unanimous support of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives and the Senate Labor and Industry Committee earlier this year.
"The Industry Partnerships program has been very successful for both employers and employees, and we should continue to offer this program in the future to build a strong, skilled workforce," said Pennsylvania Senator Mike Brubaker. The legislature will have the opportunity to make this legislation law when lawmakers return from the summer recess in September.
"Millions of Americans are desperately seeking jobs with wages and benefits to support their families," said Fred Dedrick, National Fund Executive Director. "The National Fund for Workforce Solutions, exemplified by the work of the Pennsylvania Fund, shows that when communities truly understand what skills employers are looking for, they can develop innovative initiatives to deliver the necessary training and education to workers and job seekers."
The Pennsylvania Fund for Workforce Solutions and all of the funding organizations that comprise The National Fund for Workforce Solutions are the recipients of the 2010 Distinguished Grantmaking Award for Collaboration, bestowed by the Council on Foundations. To learn more about the National Fund, visit www.nfwsolutions.org. To learn more about the Pennsylvania Fund, go to www.pfws.org.
