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Published, Version of Record (VoR)Open Access (License Unspecified), Open Access
Published, Version of Record (VoR)Open Access (License Unspecified), Open
Report
West Philadelphia Skills Initiative: A Model for Urban Workforce Development
10 Dec 2019
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.17918/00010542
Abstract
WPSI was founded by the University City District in 2012 to connect ambitious, under-resourced residents with specialized employers – such as hospitals, universities, transportation authorities, and laboratories – in West Philly. WPSI follows an established process that produces work-ready graduates for a variety of industries. Unlike traditional workforce development organizations, WPSI provides training only to the number of participants its employer partners are able to hire.
WPSI has proven to be extremely successful in the area, accomplishing:
- Increased local labor participation for previously excluded workers: 530 WPSI graduates have been placed in local jobs
- High success rates for program graduates: 97% of 2019 graduates secured full-time employment or positions with a promotion path to full time, exceeding the last reported public system placement rates by 29%
- Lasting diversity and inclusion in workspaces: 97.6% of WPSI participants come from minority groups; employers report WPSI hires turn over up to 50% less than other workers
- Regional Economic Growth: WPSI graduates experience a 25% increase in wages over other workers, this has generated $37 million in wages and increased disposable income and tax revenue
Looking beyond West Philadelphia, the report highlights key learnings that can be adopted by workforce development institutions in other cities. Crucial considerations include identifying strong anchor employers adjacent to underemployed populations, removing barriers to participation, leveraging intermediary organizations, developing credibility through local partnerships, focusing on in-demand professional entry-level jobs, and maintaining sufficient funding.
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Details
- Title
- West Philadelphia Skills Initiative: A Model for Urban Workforce Development
- Creators
- Bruce J Katz - Drexel University, Nowak Metro Finance LabMegan Humes - Centre for Public Impact (United Kingdom, London)
- Publisher
- Nowak Metro Finance Lab, Drexel University; Philadelphia, PA
- Number of pages
- 62
- Resource Type
- Report
- Language
- English
- Academic Unit
- Nowak Metro Finance Lab; Lindy Institute for Urban Innovation
- Other Identifier
- 991021902116304721