Involve Employers to Create Opportunities

Employers provide opportunities for workers to advance and are oftentimes acutely aware of the value of developing their workforce. At the same time employers' commitment to training differs based on their capacity and the state of the economy. During recessions, internal training programs may be eliminated because they are perceived as dispensable costs; whereas, during periods of economic growth, employers are more willing and able to invest in training their workforce.
One of the first and most difficult hurdles to overcome, no matter the economic climate, is clarifying for business leaders the return on investment for moving their workers up the career ladder. Creating a value structure, providing supervisor coaching, assessing employers needs, and improving communication are each means for service providers and employers to strengthen their relationships and create better opportunities for low-income workers.