In Memphis, few resources exist to help people experiencing poverty identify their professional strengths and match those strengths with the living-wage jobs that value these strengths the most.

Memphis has over 130 workforce service providers, with limited resources to help people identify which organizations offer the services they need and frequently requiring people to engage with multiple service providers across multiple sites.

1 in 4 Memphians experiencing poverty have attempted to pursue some form of postsecondary education or training but have been unable to complete their programs. This business case is focused on overcoming challenges to postsecondary attainment.

A summary report detailing the 11 employment roadblocks our community will need to address if we are to realize the conditions where Memphis Works for Everyone.

Involvement with the criminal legal system can impose overwhelming barriers to achieving economic stability

The MemWorks Employment Journey Map synthesizes the MemWorks roadblocks to employment and visualizes them from the perspective of a job seeker pursuing a living-wage career.

Only 2.8% of children born in the bottom fifth of the economic distribution in Memphis ever reach the top fifth, indicative of the challenges of realizing economic mobility in Memphis.

Seven in 10 industry credentials earned by Tennessee K-12 students do not enhance employment outcomes. Insufficient support is available to help people align their professional aptitudes with living-wage career pathways.

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.