Reducing Barriers to Employment & Advancement

Our Goal: 15,000 people will be ready to start stable careers having overcome key employment barriers by 2029.

Why It’s Important

Reducing employment barriers isn’t just about finding jobs. It’s about creating a more equitable, resilient community where everyone can thrive.

When we, as a community, focus on Reducing Barriers to Employment & Advancement, we address:

Individual well-being. Having a good job provides financial stability, improves mental health, and enhances quality of life.
Long-term impact. Collectively, we are addressing employment disparities, ensuring all community members have opportunities to succeed.
Economic growth. A fully employed population contributes to increased consumer spending, higher tax revenues, and overall economic vitality.

Through Reducing Barriers to Employment & Advancement, we focus on the root causes of barriers to employment. These are the barriers that are preventing people from getting a good job and supporting their families.

New and increased gifts to Reducing Barriers to Employment & Advancement are doubled by ManpowerGroup from 7/1/25 to 6/30/26 up to $200,000.

What We’re Doing Together

Reducing Barriers to Employment & Advancement is guided by these strategies:

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Education, training, & credentials. Supporting organizations that help adults learn to read, earn their GED/HSED, or other employment credentials that lead to a high-demand certification.

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Transportation. Supporting organizations that provide innovative transportation solutions or assist with driver’s license recovery.

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Involvement in the justice system. Supporting programs with a focus on strengthening justiceimpacted- individuals in the workplace and advocating for policy changes that help these members of our community.

How We’re Changing Lives

We are on track to meet our goal, with 5,104 people overcoming key employment barriers since the start of the initiative in 2023.

Since the beginning of funding:

Over 17,500 people have been served by Reducing Barriers to Employment & Advancement programs.
1,089 industry-recognized credentials were obtained, including GEDs, High School Equivalency Diplomas, CNA, childcare, pre-apprentice certification, IT services, and construction certifications.
204 arrest records were expunged, in addition to 11 pardons.
214 driver's licenses were recovered.
Over 1,000 riders received frequent rides to their jobs
Over 1,200 individuals gained employment after being part of a Reducing Barriers to Employment & Advancement-funded program.

Our community saw the following results in 2024-25:

Over 7,600 people were served by Reducing Barriers to Employment & Advancement programs.
1,041 people obtained industry-recognized credentials, including GEDs, High School Equivalency Diplomas, CNA, childcare, and pre-apprentice certification.
125 arrest records were expunged, and 4 pardons were obtained.
91 driver's licenses were recovered.
Over 1,000 riders received frequent rides to their jobs.
Over 700 individuals gained employment after being part of a Reducing Barriers to Employment & Advancement-funded program.

In 2024-25, United Way provided funding to organizations focused on:

Supporting people with disabilities.
Empowering justice-impacted individuals.
Addressing the need for skilled healthcare professionals.
Moving members from “low-skill” positions to “mid-skill” positions that require more than a high school diploma, but less than a four-year degree.
Offering opportunities to participate in English language learning, adult education, and GED preparation.
Providing transportation to help someone get to wellpaying jobs.