Goodwill

Together, Goodwill and its partners are providing resources to address the widening skills gap and the negative impact of the economic downturn brought on by the pandemic. The Rising Together™ coalition will provide a combination of holistic workforce services and supports, as well as build and expand upon programs that address the inequities and systemic barriers facing workers in our society the most. According to the U.S. Department of Labor's Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), 2.3 million women have left the labor force[1], a phenomenon that is being called the 'shecession,' and many others remain out of work and without the skills needed to gain new employment. Nationwide, pandemic-related job loss has also had a disproportionate impact on Black and Hispanic men and women as well as those who do not have post-high school education. In Iowa, the disparity in unemployment claims by gender over the course of the pandemic began in April of last year. According to U.S. Department of Labor statistics, at that time women comprised 56.6% of people collecting unemployment insurance, while men accounted for 40.9%. Although the disparity reported decreased during 2020, the cause is not that women were entering the workplace, rather, it was due to women leaving the workforce entirely. Minorities in Iowa have also been negatively impacted. As of March, 2021, blacks who comprise 4% of Iowa residents, accounted for 12% of unemployment claims. Likewise, Hispanics who account for 6% of Iowa's population have filed 11% of unemployment claims. These powerhouse brands are on the frontlines of America's workforce, hiring thousands of new employees each year. The coalition will use its combined hiring strength to support the holistic needs of job seekers - from providing essential transportation and broadband access to offering training opportunities and job search skills. Rising Together™ jump-starts a vision for a future where there is a pathway to opportunity that is accessible by all.