BY-NC-SA Many people who didn't graduate from high school, but are working, are often considered low-skilled unskilled employees. That usually means they are not getting paid much. The Job Opportunity Investment Network, or JOIN for short, is a Philadelphia-based organization that helps low-skilled workers move into jobs that pay more -- hopefully enough for workers to support their families. Youth Radio's Derek Williams interviewed Seth Green, Director of the Job Opportunity Investment Network, to find out more.
Q: How does JOIN help prepare unskilled workers for jobs?
A: JOIN invests in training programs that help both workers and businesses. First, we work with businesses to identify fast-growing jobs that pay good wages. Then, we invest in programs that train low-skilled workers to move into these jobs. Through these efforts, we help workers earn family-sustaining wages, and we also help businesses stay competitive in our increasingly skills-based economy. Because we try to identify the shared needs of workers and businesses, we hope to create a model that is sustainable and replicable.
One program in which we are currently investing helps to prepare low-skilled workers for jobs in the fast-growing clean energy sector. This training program is a joint venture between a community organization and a business association. The community organization identifies, assesses, and trains the low-skilled workers, while the business association provides guidance on the training program and then helps place the trainees into jobs. It’s a win-win for the community and the businesses.
Q: Your website states that, “A majority of our working age adults lack the basic skills and competencies they need to succeed in the regional labor market.” What are those skills? If someone is out of school, how can they gain those skills?
A: In order to succeed in today’s job market, you need both technical skills and soft skills. A technical skill is the ability to perform a specific task. For example, a nurse needs to know how to take blood pressure and give a shot. A soft skill is the ability to interact and communicate while performing that specific task. For example, a nurse needs to have good eye contact with patients, as well as the ability to explain complex procedures. If you have both technical and soft skills, you will be prepared to move up the career ladder.
Unfortunately, it can be very difficult for individuals who are not in school to gain these skills. That’s why you should do everything you can to succeed in high school and go on to college. But there are some government and non-profit programs that provide training. The best places to ask about available trainings are your local Workforce Investment Board or your local United Way. JOIN’s goal is ultimately to help improve the effectiveness of existing training programs by introducing innovative models and expanding funding for these programs.
Q: In your opinion, what makes a good worker? If someone is relatively young (say, under 25), but did not graduate from high school, what kinds of skills do you think they would need to develop to be a good worker?
A: Our modern economy is rapidly evolving, and that presents us with both opportunities and challenges. In my opinion, good workers need at least three characteristics to be successful in this new economy:
· Tech expertise: In fields from nursing to green construction, workers must be able to operate industry-specific technology.
· Ability to learn continuously: Since businesses are constantly changing their models to adapt to the economy, staff need to be constantly learning as well.
· Economic security: Workers need family-sustaining incomes in order to deal with the more frequent shocks of the modern economy. They also need to save so that they can invest in their own education over time and continue to move up the career ladder. This means good workers need good jobs and companies that realize the benefit of investing in their employees.
Jobs for the Future, a non-profit research, action, and advocacy group, has just published a compelling report on how adult education programs can help prepare workers for the modern workforce. It's definitely worthwhile to read if you're interested in this topic.
Q: I know JOIN does not focus on youth. However, many older people who are chronically unemployed started out as out-of-school youth. Do you have any advice for young people who dropped out of school in the past few years -- is there anything you have learned from JOIN that you think they should know?
A: The message of JOIN is that it’s never too late to seize your future. While it’s undoubtedly harder if you drop out of school, there are programs that help adults to take control of their futures. Start by studying for and getting your GED, a certificate that shows you have a skill-level that is similar to a high school graduate. Nearly every community has programs to help people of all ages to earn this degree. Then, go to community college and get professional training in an industry that has jobs with good career ladders—health care is a good example. The key thing is take every opportunity you have to train and teach yourself. Education is a foundation that you’ll rely on your entire life.
Q: Okay, let me level with you. Let’s just say, I know a bunch of people who never graduated from high school and aren’t making a ton of money. Do you think these folks are:
a) doomed to a life of watching reality TV and eating hot cheetos on the couch without ever working again?
b) just a few skills away from getting employment, if they would only realize it?
c) in a position to one day make a good wage and even support their family?
A: The truth is that some of your friends will find a good job, but others may not. The key issue is whether we as a country will invest in effective training programs to help individuals move up the career ladder. The more we invest today, the more likely your friends will be in positions to make a good wage tomorrow.
Unfortunately, the struggle of hard working, low-skilled workers is one of the most under-addressed issues of our time. For example, the average minimum wage worker in the United States has seen a real decline in wages since 1968 of 17%--that means that folks are working more and taking home less today than than their parents and grandparents did. And in many industries, the career ladder that once helped low-skilled, hard working individuals rise from low-paying jobs into the middle class has disappeared. This is not a story that we Americans are used to hearing, because we like to think of our country as a land of economic opportunity, a country in which hard work is rewarded. But the truth is we are living increasingly in two countries: one of for skilled workers and one for low-skilled. And for the low-skilled workers, our country is increasingly one of hard work amidst poverty. Indeed, a recent report by the Working Poor Families Project found that nearly 3 in 10 American families with one or both parents employed are still living in poverty.
That’s why our work at JOIN is so important. We are developing a sustainable and replicable solution to the challenge of low-skilled workers in a knowledge-based economy. Businesses in targeted industries like nursing and green energy need more mid-skilled workers in order to smooth out the workforce and develop a talent pipeline for the future. Low-skilled workers, meanwhile, need training to move up the career ladder. So, JOIN designs and invests in training programs that help these low-skilled workers realize their skill and income potential. Our ultimate goal is to build a new economy that works for workers—we want to ensure that the answer to your question is “C”.
Q: Is there anything else you would like young people to know about JOIN or the issue of becoming a more highly skilled worker?
A: I know I have said it already but education today is truly more important than ever… so study up! It used to be that you could count on a manual labor-based job. But in today’s knowledge-based economy, education is your only ticket to empowerment. In Philadelphia, where JOIN is based, 1 in 4 jobs was in manufacturing in 1979. Today, only 1 in 20 jobs is in manufacturing, and even those jobs require significant science, technology, engineering, and math education.
Wages are also shifting dramatically. Consider this: in 1975, a college grad earned 40% more than a high school grad. Today, a college grad earns twice as much as a high school grad. Education is the great economic engine of our time. The payoff for education is higher than ever. So, take every chance you can to succeed in school!
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