Baltimore, MD – May 31, 2024 — The team from Activating Employers has successfully completed a week of insightful interviews and visits in Baltimore. The focus of this initiative is to understand and amplify efforts that connect underserved communities with sustainable job opportunities, particularly within the context of the Biden administration's infrastructure spending.
During this week, eight interviews were conducted with senior officials from the Maryland Department of Labor, the City of Baltimore, and various non-profit organizations. These discussions highlighted the ongoing efforts to provide essential training and employment services to the city's underserved populations.
One of the key visits was to the Jane Addams Resource Corporation, a renowned training centre dedicated to equipping individuals from traditionally underserved communities with vital skills. The centre employs a three-pronged approach to aid job seekers:
The interviews revealed a sense of urgency and optimism as Baltimore and Maryland aim to leverage federal infrastructure funds to bridge the gap between low-income communities and quality job opportunities. This initiative is part of a broader national challenge to employ local talent in new job sectors, particularly within the heavily regulated construction industry.
Contrasts were drawn with the long-term care sector, which remains less regulated, particularly in home care. Issues such as wage theft and the misclassification of employees as independent contractors were frequently mentioned, highlighting similarities with labour challenges faced in the UK.
The insights gathered during this week underscore the critical need for comprehensive and inclusive workforce development strategies to ensure that infrastructure investments lead to equitable economic growth.
Washington D.C. is a hub for legislative activity and economic reform under the Biden administration. Despite gentrification challenges, Bidenomics aims to create good jobs through infrastructure spending. Strong union support and local workforce development efforts are crucial in ensuring equitable job opportunities and sustainable economic growth.
Pittsburgh, now a White House-designated workforce development hub, faces challenges in the healthcare and construction sectors. A growing coalition aims to improve wages and working conditions, especially in healthcare. Collaboration among stakeholders is crucial to addressing workforce issues and integrating immigrants. The embedded video provides more detailed insights.
The UK Procurement Act 2023 is due to come into force in the latter half of 2024. It will introduce the largest shift in UK procurement objectives since the introduction of the Social Value Act (2012) and apply to most sectors in the UK.
