Dr. Jessica Kemp is Vice President for Policy and Advocacy at the Center for Planning Excellence. She authored CPEX's reporton "disconnected workers," which explores barriers to economic development statewide, and particularly in the nine-parish Capitol region.
TRANSCRIPT:
Ann Marie Awad: So we should probably get this out of the way this out of the way first, what is a disconnected worker?
Dr. Jessica Kemp: A disconnected worker is someone who has no employment history or has maybe a very spotty employment history. This is someone who faces multiple barriers to full-time sustained employment.
AMA: Early on in the report you point to this Baton Rouge area Chamber reportthat kind of looks at what we should be doing to increase workforce development and basically the approaches is as it has always been really is to say, you know, "these industries are demanding these workers here's what we need to do to meet those demands." The CPEX report, however, seems to say "instead of looking at industry demands we need to look at workforce needs."
JK: Kind of, I wouldn't put it exactly that way. I think we want to say in addition to focusing on training skilled workers for those middle-skill jobs, we also need to be looking at the entry point of the pipeline and getting more people engaged in entry-level work so that they are then in a position down the road to train for some of those skilled jobs, with the larger objective of making sure that more people who are in need in Louisiana have access to all the new jobs in new opportunities that are coming along with the recent spate of economic growth.
AA: You also point to some organizations that are doing work to serve disconnected workers - so this may kind of further illustrate with a disconnected worker is - so tell me a little bit about the type of services that Goodwill, Hope Ministries, United Way are providing.
JK: Sure. I think the thing that unites them all is that they provide a wide range of services, they all recognize that disconnected workers need a variety of things, and it's different for every every person, every individual. So, in addition to literacy training and you know basic skills and knowledge, they may be teaching literacy, they may be helping with family stability, they may be helping with food and shelter. So a lot of disconnected workers face just this compendium of issues, and it really takes a lot of concerted effort and and a broad range of knowledge to be able to address those issues.
AA: And one of the biggest issues your report points to is transportation.
JK: Yes.
AA: So transportation time and time again is the biggest obstacles to disconnect workers?
JK: That's right, and that's not something that most of these service providers can offer - we need to look to other agencies to be coordinating with the service providers to provide that kind that kind of access - but at CPEX we have heard from all of these organizations and others that transportation is a consistent barrier for workers who are trying really hard to advance their situations, access services, get more education, get the training they need; they want these opportunities but if they don't have access to a personal vehicle theym, may not be able to do it.
AA: Now what are your recommendations when it comes to transportation?
JK: Well, our transit system is is a key player in this, and we all know that CATS has had its troubles, but it has made some really important steps forward towards making improvements in the quality of the service and the reach of the service. CPEX is very supportive of those efforts and just hope[s] to see them continue to expand and improve with a focus on making sure that those who would rely on transit as a primary means of transportation are those who are prioritized for those expansions and improvements.