Matt Strauss, CEO and Co-Founder, Inc Rice Kit.
According to a study he conducted Conference boardThe United States faces a persistent shortage of blue-collar workers in the workforce, and this problem is expected to persist through at least 2030.
One factor contributing to the labor shortage is that millions of baby boomers have retired since the pandemic. In addition, more young people are choosing to pursue a college education, and thus white-collar jobs.
However, there is a solution. Community employment opens up various opportunities to address the shortage of blue-collar workers. Connecting with local organizations dedicated to supporting marginalized communities allows companies to find job seekers who otherwise would otherwise not be using common recruitment platforms.
So what’s the formula for building a successful community recruiting plan and filling job vacancies?
Find community partners
With the job market being so tight for entry-level and hourly jobs, community organizations offer a way to obtain and provide training to retain talent that companies can’t actually find. But the first step in finding a community partner is to identify your core business values and the reasons you are passionate about.
For example, if veterans hold a special place in your life, explore community organizations that specialize in supporting veterans. Perhaps you are dedicated to promoting the growth and development of young people. See youth programs for opportunities. This targeted approach can ensure that the hiring strategy in your community will align with your values and principles.
Second, find community partners in your nearby radius. This is important because a nearby community organization is likely to have a first-hand understanding of local issues, challenges, and needs. Moreover, they can easily connect you with individuals from marginalized groups who are highly motivated to work but face barriers to entry, allowing you to tap into a diverse pool of talents.
Finally, do your research. Learning more about a CBO’s training programs can help you understand whether they will meet your specific staffing requirements. Suppose you have openings for warehouse jobs. In this case, a community training program that prioritizes practical skills will suffice. However, if you’re looking for people with highly specialized manufacturing skills, you may want to explore Community Associates that offer more advanced resources. Alternatively, you can collaborate with them to develop new training opportunities.
Maintain relationships with your partners in the community
Once you’ve contacted the Community Partners, regular engagement with them is vital to your recruitment practices. It improves recruitment communication, making it easier to find untapped talent.
So keep lines of communication open with your community partners. This means updating them regularly about your organization’s staffing needs and upcoming job opportunities. Scheduling in-person meetings or events helps build stronger relationships with community partners and builds trust. Furthermore, newsletters can be a valuable tool for sharing stories about the positive impact of community partnership and raising awareness.
As the partnership develops, it becomes necessary to evaluate the effectiveness of your alliance and recruitment efforts. Actively seek feedback and find areas for improvement so you can make the necessary adjustments to improve collaboration. Often the hardest and most difficult part is submitting the job application and the retention feedback loop. But it is critically important that community organizations need this data to maintain compliance with government grants.
Admittedly, these practices can take a long time. The good news is that using email updates, online shared documents, and collaboration tools can make it easier to share information efficiently, and increase efficiency. It is also beneficial to take advantage of tools and software that automate certain aspects of the process. For example, applicant tracking systems can help manage job postings and applicant data. Third party technologies can also help notify your community partner of status updates along the way.
Break down barriers to employment
There are different conditions, or BarriersThis can greatly affect an individual’s ability to secure and maintain a job. This may include inadequate housing, clothing, transportation, or childcare arrangements. To address these issues and improve hiring initiatives in your community, there are several solutions you can deploy.
For example, by avoiding last-minute interview requests, you can ensure that candidates have time to prepare appropriate clothing or arrange for childcare. This can increase participation in the hiring process. You can also work with community partners to set up transportation services or cover transportation costs to help job seekers get to interviews, educational programs, and the workplace.
With the retirement of senior employees and the varying employment preferences of the new generation, there are many reasons why the United States faces a persistent shortage of blue-collar workers. However, prioritizing community hiring can enable companies to connect with hard-to-reach communities and access untapped talent pools. By creating an effective community recruitment strategy, companies can foster strong relationships with their communities, break down barriers to hiring and build the diverse workforce they need.
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