Problem: The capital city has a skills problem. In 2000 the unemployment rate for residents in the labor force totaled 9.3 percent, compared with 13.7 percent in 2014. The Providence Working Cities team has also identified a skills gap between workers’ abilities and what employers are seeking.
Pitch: To create an integrated system of workforce development that aligns the needs of employers with the skills of residents using funds from the private, nonprofit and public sectors.
PETER ASEN, director of partnerships and development for Providence, says the Working Cities group decided to focus on workforce development because it yielded the most interest during various meetings with stakeholders.
“It makes sense to a lot of businesses,” Asen said. “We’ve heard from plenty of businesses that it’s a challenge to find people with certain skills for certain positions.”
Working Cities has a lot of people excited in Providence, Asen added, and regardless of whether the group receives a full grant next year, he thinks this process of connecting the different sectors to work toward a common goal will benefit the city.
“We’re committed to improving our workforce either way,” Asen said. “We’re trying to make these long-term system changes, and I think we’ll look back at this process and be glad that we’re a part of it.” •
