Jobless may need help getting back to work

Boston » The state must invest in workforce development programs to help people transition into technical trades and other indemand industries if they are unable to return to their old jobs eliminated during the pandemic, a new report from several statewide workforce organizations recommends.

The paper, presented Monday at a virtual policy briefing for legislators, recommended five steps to ensure “a full equitable and sustainable recovery,” including expanded technical training, funding for programs for speakers of other languages, investments in digital access, and the ramping up of existing workforce system capacities.

“With a new influx of federal stimulus dollars expected this spring, it is imperative that efforts be targeted to people who have been hurt the most during the pandemic; and ideally, to help them thrive beyond PRE-COVID levels,” the paper said.

The report was written by Kathie Mainzer of Workforce Solutions Group, Tonja Mettlach of Massachusetts Workforce Association, and Anne Calef of Boston Indicators.

Some unemployed workers will need to switch to new occupations, but may not have the necessary access to training required for positions, the report states. As a result, Massachusetts should scale up and fund effective job training in sectors with high employer demand, offer on-the-job paid training and allocate funding to retaining instructors, the report recommends.

The paper says funding should head to existing organizations that identify talent needs and create joint training ventures like the Workforce Competitiveness Trust Fund and Learn to Earn, both offered by the Commonwealth Corp.

“The Workforce Competitiveness Trust Fund is a major one. It’s a competitive grant program around the state,” Mainzer said. “You must have employers at the table that have vacant jobs, and the employers partner with a community college or (vocational technical) school or training organization to help people get their CDL driver’s license or a CNA certification or early childhood education certification.”

The pandemic’s impact on the state’s accommodations and food services sectors topped all other industry areas in job loss between February 2020 and January 2021, according to the report. Roughly 103,300 people lost employment during that time period in accommodations and food services, with health care and social assistance coming in second at about 49,900.

Forced shutdowns and capacity restrictions meant to curb the spread of the virus also brought on an economic downturn that silenced bustling downtown areas. The effect of staying at home, the report said, created a “slightly counterintuitive effect” of further job losses in the service sector.

“Many Massachusetts workers are now working remotely, which almost paradoxically, has led to even more service sector job loss in downtown areas as there’s less workers to frequent those businesses, services,” Calef said. “All of this has translated to the high unemployment rate … which has been above the national rate for most of the pandemic.”

The paper suggests expanding funding for language learning opportunities for people who have limited English proficiency like JVS Boston’s English for Advancement Program, which is said to have “engaged” more than 1,000 residents in Boston, Lynn, Lowell and Lawrence. It also recommended making those programs available to furloughed or laid-off workers so that they can take advantage of the time “to increase their English proficiency and develop other vocational skills that will help them advance in career pathways.”