Organizations helping job seekers fear they won’t be able to meet need

A new report surveying workforce development organizations in New York City found that 63% of respondents fear they won’t be able meet the demand for help with employment placements in the future.

Organizations helping people with employment and job training services pointed to several factors that would limit their ability to help enough clients, according to the report from the New York City Employment and Training Coalition and the Center for New York City Affairs at The New School. Several expressed concerns about being able to abide by COVID-19-related safety guidelines, transitioning certain programs to a virtual format and operating on limited budgets. Of the 54 groups surveyed late last year, 96% reported declining revenue from reduced government funding, private philanthropic dollars or fundraising.

Close to half of the respondents had already reduced their employment services as well as education and training services. Approximately one-quarter of those surveyed anticipated they would have to reduce more services in the next six months. 

“Because these organizations can reach, train, and find jobs for low-income workers of color who have been most hard-hit by the disease and its wider economic repercussions, it is essential that these organizations remain intact to ensure an equitable recovery,” the report states.