Engaging Employers to Benefit Low-Income Job Seekers

Summary

Despite the crucial role of employers in creating opportunities for low-wage, entry-level workers, there's little research on employers’ perspectives. This report sheds some light on the topic from data collected as part of the Annie E. Casey Foundation’s Jobs Initiative. Engaging Employers explores whether employers value workforce intermediaries, to what extent employers support low-income, entry-level workers in their human resources policies, and more. 

Table of Contents

• Table of Contents
• Introduction
• What the Research Says: Key Findings
• Conclusion
• Recommendations for Policymakers
• The Research Design

Key Takeaway

Understanding Employers

Understanding why some employers support low-income, entry-level workers and others do not has important implications for workforce intermediaries. Two factors shape employers’ willingness to support workers: a desire to benefit the larger community by hiring people who need help, and a recognition that "the bottom line" limits their ability to do so.