Building Communities Through Local Workforce

Across the US, many industries continue to experience a historic labor shortage. From healthcare and professional services, to manufacturing and construction, to trucking and telecommunications – employers are facing a constant challenge to recruit and retain staff. 

At the same time, millions of low wage workers and unemployed individuals are being supported by community-based nonprofits and workforce development organizations to improve their job prospects and increase their wages. 

Throughout the US, millions of individuals face unnecessary barriers to employment created by anything from lack of credentials, to bias against their zip code, to early involvement in the justice system that may unfairly define their careers. These individuals may struggle to find stable employment, but often find help from community-based nonprofits that provide training and other supportive services. 

This current labor market dynamic provides an opportunity for all parties, if only we can help employers find these undiscovered candidates and help nonprofits and the workers they support find and apply for positions relevant to their skills.   

Our latest grant supports RiseKit, a technology platform that enables employers to recruit candidates from networks of community-based nonprofits. RiseKit’s software connects employers’ applicant tracking systems (ATS’s) with the client management systems of these community-based organizations, creating linkages between these overlooked candidates and unfilled jobs. In this way, companies access a diverse pool of talent that may not have been easily reached through conventional recruiting methods. RiseKit’s ATS integration allows employers to significantly increase their candidate pool, easy “one-click” selection of relevant community organization networks, an automated applicant-facing interface and feedback loop, and other tools that encourage retention of employees once hired.  

The GitLab Foundation’s grant will help scale up the adoption of RiseKit’s successfully piloted software platform by underwriting the cost of employer licenses. This expansion will help corporations and large-scale regional or national nonprofits and workforce organizations to pilot RiseKit’s innovative approach and technology with less cost and risk. 

The goal of this initial grant is to place 1,000 job seekers into training programs or higher-earning jobs, while helping corporations streamline their local hiring initiatives through RiseKit’s technology. 

Click here to hear from people who have found opportunities through RiseKit.

The projected ROI for this grant is $151 of increased earnings for every dollar we invest.