New research highlights racial inequities in the workforce and makes actionable recommendations for equitable economic recovery
PR Newswire
WASHINGTON, Jan. 26, 2021
WASHINGTON, Jan. 26, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- New reports show that there remain deep racial inequities in the labor market that are made worse by the coronavirus pandemic. Coupled with disaggregated data analysis, the reports identify workforce equity strategies that should be implemented across systems to foster broad economic prosperity.
The Advancing Workforce Equity reports, released today by the National Fund for Workforce Solutions, in collaboration with PolicyLink and the USC Equity Research Institute, Burning Glass Technologies, and JPMorgan Chase, uncover data that highlights the stark realities for workers in five U.S. metro regions – Boston, Chicago, Dallas, San Francisco, and Seattle. Key observations that emerged across these regions include the following:
"Shared prosperity demands bold solutions that center racial equity and dismantle systems and structures that disadvantage certain groups of people," said Michael McAfee, president and CEO of PolicyLink. Equity—just and fair inclusion into a society in which everyone can participate and prosper—is the superior growth model. It is not only a matter of social justice or morality: It is an economic necessity."
Although there are similarities across the reports, the recommended actions emerged from the local data insights and reflect the power of local leadership, design, and influence. Traditional workforce activities — education, training, and job placement — remain a priority, but this research demonstrates that achieving workforce equity will require greater public and private sector coordination, collaboration, and solutions that can cut across multiple systems, including housing, transportation, and childcare.
"The data supports what we've seen for a long time. Racial inequities are entrenched in all aspects of the workforce system," said Amanda Cage, president and CEO of the National Fund for Workforce Solutions. "The time for talk is over. It's time to get to work, and the strategies outlined in these reports offer a concrete way to get started."
The following recommendations are among those highlighted in the reports:
"As workers across the country, especially in Black and Latinx communities, continue to face barriers to good jobs, it's critical to work across sectors to address these inequities," said Monique Baptiste, vice president of global philanthropy at JPMorgan Chase. "With data-driven insights and collaboration, and as part of JPMorgan Chase's commitment to advancing racial equity and preparing people for the future of work, we can begin to close the gap, grow opportunity, and define a clear path forward to a more inclusive economy."
The regional reports, data, and analysis can be found at https://nationalfund.org/advancing-workforce-equity-reports/.
The Advancing Workforce Equity reports were developed through a partnership of the National Fund for Workforce Solutions, PolicyLink, USC Equity Research Institute, and Burning Glass Technologies, with support from JPMorgan Chase.
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SOURCE The National Fund for Workforce Solutions