By Gina Gallagher | Citizens Contributor

At Citizens, we believe that when people and communities reach their potential, we all thrive. Yet, with the COVID-19 pandemic and renewed focus on social equity, our communities have been facing new and unprecedented challenges.  

One of the most pressing is a growing demand for a workforce with unique, new skills, and a need to ensure that all individuals, including traditionally marginalized groups, have a chance to be a part of it.

Today, the public, private and nonprofit sectors have the opportunity to help close the opportunity gap through innovative and collaborative partnerships. Workforce development efforts, such as upskilling, reskilling and providing non-traditional career pathways allow individuals to build skills, pursue in-demand careers and achieve long-term economic security.

To highlight cross sector workforce development opportunities , Citizens is convening local leaders through a series of panel discussions. Our second such session, which took place in Pittsburgh, featured: 

Bruce Van Saun, Chairman and CEO of Citizens Financial Group, Inc.

Esther Bush, President and CEO of Urban League of Greater Pittsburgh

Robert Cherry, CEO of Partner4Work

Esther Melling Stief, Executive Director of Crossroads Foundation

Janis Burley Wilson, President and CEO of The August Wilson African American Cultural Center  

Read on to learn key insights about workforce development:

The importance of workforce development today and in the future

Workforce development extends beyond securing a job. It involves providing the training and support to meet people’s needs and enhance their abilities so they can reach their goals, advance their careers and build brighter futures for our communities.

We recognize that career support has not been accessible to all members of our communities.  Minorities in many under-resourced income areas, including Pittsburgh, often don’t have access to the support they need to build the skills needed for 21^st century  careers. Companies, which are essential to the economic viability of communities, area also facing a daunting shortage of skilled workers and a widening opportunity divide.

To address these needs and create lasting, meaningful change necessary for the future, companies like Citizens are forging relationships with nonprofit organizations to create bridges to success.

But more needs to be done, and open discussions, such as the one in this panel, can help pave the way for it. 

Acknowledging where we are and how far we can go

As the session moderator, Janis Burley Wilson, pointed out, navigating health difficulties from COVID-19 and the ongoing need to address social and racial inequity has been challenging across many business sectors.

It's created a dramatic transformation in emerging needs for employers, as Citizens President & CEO Bruce Van Saun explained. “The pandemic brought about a lot of changes. Business models were moving very rapidly toward online sales and digital business models. Companies have had to adjust their agenda to reflect those realities. The need for different skills is increasing.” 

But not all individuals have those skills or the opportunities to develop them. “The African American community is oversaturated as it relates to hourly employees,” shared Esther Bush, retiring president & CEO of the Urban League of Pittsburgh. Individuals who may not be very up on high-tech industries or who are working from home may be struggling with how to manage technology or how to support their children’s learning needs.  Esther believes we need to be very honest about where we as a society have placed minorities in terms of their opportunity to compete successfully and to be included.  

For many, that challenge has not only impacted their ability to gain employment, but also to meet basic standards of living, such as housing, utilities and food security. Esther Stief, executive director of the Crossroads Foundation, can see the impact of the pandemic on young people, the workforce of tomorrow. “The gap in what young people have access to was vast. Some students were not in school for months and families had no internet. They all want to learn, were curious and engaged, but our system failed [many youth not in the Crossroads program]."

Creating a Society of Opportunity

The panelists all agreed that there now exists an opportunity for business leaders, educational institutions and nonprofits to come together and innovate to build a society where all people can thrive. 

Robert Cherry, CEO of Partner4Work has seen the success the banking industry has had in this arena with the BankWorks$® program offered through his organization.   

“Financial institutions came together. They recognized [that] they all had a need for entry level workers. There was an agreed-upon industry-led curriculum. The last cohort we had had 100% placement with different financial institutions.”

Esther Bush shared how the Urban League has forged valuable partnerships with 56 partners to help people of all ages. 

“We’re so proud of the work we’ve done in helping train parents and grandparents who have never turned on a computer.”

But still, she recognizes that more industry partnerships must be made. “Nationally, the African American community accounts for 7% of the workforce in the tech industry. In Pittsburgh, it’s less than 1%. Our numbers need to grow.”

Some of the ways to accomplish that include programs such as Black Girls Code, a Citizens partner, which helps provide opportunities in technology for young women of color.

Janis Burley Wilson sees an opportunity in the creative arts industry, or in particular, the stagehand union, which has very few people of color.

“We’re working to create a program to welcome women and people of color into the industry,” she shared.

Creating new and tangible pathways for young people

Putting young people on the path to success is critical to the future of our workforce – and communities. But all panelists acknowledged that there doesn't have to be one path to success.

“Companies are reassessing the real skills needed to do a job.  Instead of requiring a four-year degree, it may be requiring an associate’s degree and two years of experience. Or a high school diploma,” said Robert Cherry. “Apprenticeships programs like they have in Germany work.” 

All panelists agree that college isn’t for everyone. “We have an opportunity to marshal students in careers where there is a demand,” added Bruce Van Saun. Those careers could include welders or plumbers or logistics managers who drive goods across the country. 

“Young people can’t be what they can’t see,” said Esther Bush. “We need to try new things and be part of the solution. We need to put out the welcome sign and develop partnerships. It doesn’t matter what your credentials are as long as you can do it.”

Working toward a brighter future together

The path to creating a successful and diverse workforce must begin with intentionality. Robert Cherry believes Citizens is a good example. “[Citizens] saw a problem and reached out to nonprofits to help solve it."

Esther Stief believes the investments companies make in workforce development will pay dividends later in the lives of young people. “It’s all our problem and opportunity. Young people need more than lip service. [We have] the opportunity to create tangible pathways, so they know they are valued and can see a place for themselves.” 

Esther Bush sees that opportunity in her hometown of Pittsburgh.  “We can cure all our problems with who we have right here ... the corporate community, our world-renowned educational institutions, our IT growth, hospitals and health care. We have enough intellect, wealth and opportunity to make Pittsburgh the best place for citizens to live. We can save our children.”

 Watch the full panel discussion:

Ready to join us to transform lives, workplaces and communities

Through partnerships with local colleges, grants to nonprofit organizations dedicated to workforce development and pathways to career success, Citizens, is ready to impact change in Pittsburgh and in all our market to build stronger futures, workplaces and communities for us all.  Learn more about our commitment to strengthening our communities and watch the first part of our workforce development series.