Through our research, we identified several workforce organizations across the country, and the world, that are employing evidence-based practices that address the employment roadblocks MemWorks identified. Over the next several weeks, we will profile some of these organizations to share their impact and what we can learn from them that could help inform our efforts in Memphis.
JobsFirstNYC
JobsFirstNYC is a nonprofit workforce intermediary that connects job-seeking young adults (18-24) in New York City to employers and facilitates the skills training and support services they need to achieve economic mobility. Cities frequently struggle with coordination within and between workforce systems, and this can make accessing workforce services unmanageable for job seekers. JobsFirstNYC breaks down these barriers and provides critical coordination services for job seekers.
JobsFirstNYC aims to create cohesion among workforce training players and bridge the divide between public and private entities. The organization encourages employer involvement in its work and partners with workforce development organizations to improve their service quality. JobsFirstNYC provides broad access to best practices information for workforce programs, working to enhance underperforming programs and steer students to the highest-quality opportunities.
The organization implements several programs, of which we highlight three that have demonstrated significant measurable impact:
- The Young Adult Sectoral Employment Project (YASEP), coordinated by JobsFirstNYC, provides sector-specific training and employment opportunities for disconnected young adults in high-demand industries. YASEP has facilitated over 1,500 job placements for young adults in the healthcare, technology, and skilled trades sectors. Participants in YASEP programs have seen an average wage increase of 33% after completing the training and securing employment.
- The Bronx Opportunity Network (BON), coordinated by JobsFirstNYC, is a collaborative initiative aimed at improving college readiness, enrollment, and persistence among disconnected youth in the Bronx. Since its inception, the BON has supported over 1,800 students. Approximately 60% of these students have enrolled in college, and 70% of the enrollees have persisted beyond their first year.
- The Transfer 2 Career Collaborative (T2C) is an innovative partnership aimed at improving postsecondary and workforce outcomes for over-age, under-credited high school students by providing individualized career development support, with JobsFirstNYC coordinating between transfer high schools and workforce development organizations to facilitate successful transitions to college and careers. This initiative has connected over 400 over-age, under-credited students to workforce development programs.
Lessons for Memphis
Without a strong, centralized workforce intermediary, it is incredibly difficult to launch cross-functional programs that involve employers, workforce programs, and education institutions.
To receive the needed services from the over 130 workforce service providers in Memphis, individuals must navigate unwieldy and inefficient systems that frequently require working with multiple organizations across multiple sites. A centralized intermediary could vastly expand the capacity of the community to efficiently support job seekers while ensuring a steadier labor pool for employers.
Memphis currently lacks a centralized workforce intermediary. JobsFirstNYC provides a potential roadmap or model for Memphis as it considers an approach to reconstitute its intermediary. An organization empowered to launch bold initiatives and convene workforce development partners while engaging employers to align services with industry needs could create a substantial impact in our community, breaking down a roadblock that stymies job seekers before they even attempt to apply for a job.
