On January 8, REMP reported the following findings to the White House about its Community Jobs Forum the day earlier.

Read about the January 7 Community Jobs Forum

1. From what you have seen, or seen reported about the President’s Jobs Forum on December 3rd, what seems to be relevant to your community?

The participants agreed that long-term unemployment and underemployment is a big problem that many people in Pittsburgh and the surrounding area are facing. In concert with one of the conclusions of the President’s forum, our participants saw small business development as an important part of the solution to the jobs crisis.

2. What parts of your local economy are working or thriving? What businesses and sectors are expanding and hiring?

Technology and healthcare jobs are both growing in the Pittsburgh region. The tech sector is hiring slowly and cautiously but there are a number of opportunities in the region. These jobs tend to pay higher wages and are good jobs. Healthcare is another booming industry in the Pittsburgh region and there are many opportunities.

On the other hand, the technology jobs often require a high level of education and skill. In Pittsburgh, children and young adults of color, mainly African Americans are often finishing school without the skills needed to enter these fields, or are dropping out early, making these positions impossible to obtain. The healthcare field has provided many jobs and opportunities for people in the region, but many of these positions are low wage jobs and contribute to our underemployment problem.

3. What parts of your local economy are not working or thriving? What businesses and sectors have been hit the hardest? What people are struggling the most?

Our participants agreed that the formerly incarcerated, young people, and those who lack basic education are struggling the most in Pittsburgh. Ex-offenders find job searches one of the most difficult elements of re-entry.

4. What are the opportunities for growth in your community? What businesses and sectors seem to be poised to rebound? What do you see as the “jobs of the future”?

Small businesses seem to hold the greatest amount of potential in producing job growth in the African American community, especially. We believe that through the development of small businesses, owned and operated in the predominantly African American areas of the city, a number of good jobs could be created.

The construction industry provides some jobs but because of the way that contractors do business the benefits of expanding opportunities do not flow to those who have been traditionally left out of these opportunities, minorities and women. It was also pointed out that there should not be an overemphasis on looking at Construction as the be and end all to job creation and opportunities.

Our local Community Colleges have been a tremendous resource and the below recommendations were submitted in writing by a representative.

• Targeted funds to community colleges to support grants for dislocated workers, first time-college bound students, and economically distressed area residents to cover tuition, books, fees etc.
• Funding support for community collaborations that identify, recruit, train and support low income students in workforce training and higher education certificate and degree completion
• Grant support for non-credit workforce development programs (Financial aid does not cover non-credit)
• Funding for entrepreneurial training geared for low income and distressed area residents attending community college that supports actual business plan development, assistance in acquiring financing and technical assistance.
• Funding incentives for union apprenticeship programs to recruit and retain minorities and women
• A massive Public Works Initiative to fund rebuilding infrastructure; bridges, roads, sewers, water and sanitation systems that has specific employment and MWDBE benchmarks for participation.
• Felony forgiveness so that we can reclaim the millions who are barred from employment and scholarship opportunities even after years of having a clean record.
• Bonding for workers with felony convictions as an incentive for companies that employ such workers- (I have a contact that worked on such a state program in Pennsylvania years ago)
• Incentives for Green Economy projects seeking public funding that require minority, low income and distressed area resident participation both in employment and MWDBE
• Enforcement and expansion of HUD section 3 projects requiring public housing resident employment and business enterprise development
• Increase program support for efforts like Youth Build that combine training, employment and housing rehabilitation
• Increase Job Corps Training and College Programs (CCAC has largest college program in country with 4-500 students being supported)

5. What are the obstacles to job creation in your community? What could make local businesses more likely to start hiring?

The uncertain business climate has made many businesses reluctant to hire. In addition, the technological manufacturing area and others that use coal have been hesitant to hire because of the American Clean Energy and Security Act, its potential effects on their businesses still incalculable.

White-collar crime and outsourcing were also brought up in our conversation about obstacles.

6. What other issues and ideas should the President consider?

In Pittsburgh, “the Old Boys’ Network” is a longstanding barrier to employment. Preferential promotion and hiring based on referral and/or nepotism are very common in the Pittsburgh region and has been a challenging obstacle for people of color.

* As a solution to this we recommend that the enforcement of existing legislation that prohibits such actions and the encouragement of fair hiring practices.

For youth in Pittsburgh, their unique challenges include their own limited mobility, inability to pass a urine test, lack of parental support, little or no disposable income to put together some of the materials needed for a job search, poor reading skills, and the lack of a driver’s license.

* As a solution to this we recommend that the government fund youth employment programs that prove an understanding of these problems and that recognize young people are motivated by results, are receptive to mentoring, and often have an entrepreneurial spirit that can be fostered. Interview preparation and other job readiness skills are also greatly needed. Such programs need to provide a realistic atmosphere where drugs aren’t tolerated. Funding for such initiatives should be made available through expanded funding through a Jobs creation bill or part of the next round of spending through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.

For adult members of the community and the formerly incarcerated who are also struggling to find jobs are facing some of the same challenges as our youth and often also face supporting a family.

*We believe that the government should only fund programs that have a structure that shows a “continuum of care” where they follow up with their clients and offer formal and informal supports for at least 1 year. Mentoring, educational testing and skill training, job preparation, job placement in positions that pay a living wage, and a focus on careers are all important components of such programs.

Some of the participants of our forum run successful training programs. They were particularly concerned with the difficulty that those who successfully complete their programs still face, especially the trials of a new work environment and whether or not with the shrinking job market despite few jobs lost, whether or not there will be jobs for those that successfully complete programs.

* We recommend an emphasis be put on the importance of mentoring in all fields and sectors in the retention of all new employees, but especially minority employees who may be adjusting to a new social environment.

As previously mentioned in this document, we believe that underemployment is a big problem in the Pittsburgh region. The wages of many available positions are too low to support a family and the part time positions often do not offer healthcare.

* Universal healthcare would change these positions so that they are more sustainable for the individuals that hold them, removing one of their financial concerns.