Workforce gains help Boston jobs

Posted on May 31, 2018

According to city officials, significant gains have been made to boost Boston jobs.

Some significant gains in workforce development and economic mobility include over $14 million that has been directed to more than 90 community-based organizations that have provided job training, adult education, youth programs, apprenticeship opportunities and financial education to Boston residents from July 2016 to June 2017.

Four years ago, Mayor Walsh committed to working towards eliminating the opportunity gap throughout the city of Boston. When he came into office, Mayor Walsh created the Office of Workforce Development, with Career Centers serving more than 380 employers and 15,000 job seekers annually with resume-writing, networking, interviewing and job searching skills. A year  later, Mayor Walsh established The Office of Financial Empowerment which works to equip residents with the knowledge, tools, and resources to be financially secure and create wealth.

“The Office of Workforce Development’s achievements show how much we can accomplish as a city when we commit to advancing opportunity for all,” said Mayor Walsh. “Our hardwork and dedication is paying off. With the help of an English language class or a job training program, many more residents are able to increase their earnings, gain financial security, and provide for their families. We will continue to prioritize the needs of our workforce and do everything we can to lift our middle class up to new heights.”

Some successes, as noted in the Office of Workforce Development’s annual report include:

• Among clients of the one-stop career centers, 59 percent obtained employment within the first quarter of exit, earning an average wage of $21.36 per hour.
• Upon job placement, graduates of training programs funded by Neighborhood Jobs Trust grants earned an average wage of $15.23 per hour with 72 percent earning benefits as well.
• Students in the Tuition-Free Community College Plan achieved a higher first-year retention rate (65 percent) than the state (59 percent) or national (49 percent) averages for community college students.