On June 12, 2023, The Project on Workforce – along with the Eastern Bank Foundation, Massachusetts Business Roundtable, and SkillWorks – hosted a virtual convening, “Addressing the Labor Shortage in Massachusetts: Tapping Hidden Talent.”
Historically tight labor markets threaten Massachusetts' businesses and the economy in the midst of stubborn opportunity gaps and continued racial and economic inequities. Demographic and social trends strongly suggest that the acutely tight labor market is here to stay for the foreseeable future and that one of the few solutions is tapping the "hidden” workforce through smart and targeted workforce development strategies. Implementing creative and effective strategies to tap hidden talent is not easy.
On June 12, 2023, The Project on Workforce – along with the Eastern Bank Foundation, Massachusetts Business Roundtable, and SkillWorks – hosted a virtual convening to bring together researchers, employers, workforce development providers, and policymakers to better understand the challenges and opportunities, share solutions, and tackle common obstacles. The convening included a presentation from Joseph B. Fuller on hidden workers and a preview of forthcoming research from Jerry Rubin on addressing the labor shortage in Massachusetts. In addition, the Project on Workforce hosted a panel with Massachusetts workforce leaders to hear how they have created inclusive environments for key segments of the state's population, including immigrants, caregivers, individuals who are disabled, older workers, and returning citizens. You can watch recordings of the two presentations and the panel, below.
SPEAKERS & PRESENTERS
Robert Rivers, CEO, Eastern Bank
Joseph B. Fuller, Harvard Business School
Jerry Rubin, Project on Workforce & Eastern Bank Foundation
PANEL
Moderator: Andre Green, Executive Director, SkillWorks
Emmanuel Owusu, Executive Director, African Bridge Network
Colleen Moran, Workforce Integration Director, Mass General Brigham
Tim Driver, President, Age Friendly Ventures
Gabriel Mandujano, CEO & Founder, Wash Cycle Laundry
Video 1: Hidden Workers: Untapped Talent
Featuring: Robert Rivers and Joseph B. Fuller
Video 2: Tapping Massachusetts’ Hidden Talent
Featuring: Jerry Rubin
Video 3: Panel: Promising Practices in Tapping Hidden Talent
Featuring: Andre Green, Emmanuel Owusu, Colleen Moran, Tim Driver, and Gabriel Mandujano