For the millions of people across the United States with histories of incarceration, mental illness, and homelessness, finding steady employment can feel like an insurmountable challenge. But, organizations like REDF, the Roberts Enterprise Development Fund, are working to break down these barriers, providing people with the skills, training, and opportunities they need to thrive professionally.
REDF is a philanthropic intermediary that exists to help people facing barriers to employment re-enter the workforce. Through financial support and workforce training development, REDF helps prepare businesses (referred to as employment social enterprises, or ESEs) to hire, train and employ these individuals in a real work environment.
Partnering with and growing the business of individual ESEs is a critical part of the REDF mission, but now, they’re looking to focus on ecosystem-level change. REDF projects are expanding nationally, ranging from statewide policy changes in California to investing millions of dollars in small businesses across Appalachia. To effectively grow businesses across the country, they were in need of comprehensive labor market data—that’s where Lightcast comes in.
Overview:
Developer, a Lightcast labor market data tool, has been a key resource for REDF in breaking down barriers to employment across California, influencing statewide policy and supporting the investment of millions of dollars in employment social enterprises.
Lightcast labor market insights have been a critical tool for REDF in administering programs like CA RISE–the California Regional Initiative for Social Enterprise–which through supporting ESEs is contributing to decreases in homelessness rates in cities like Los Angeles.
After years of successful programming across California, REDF is now using Lightcast data to assess the labor market across the Appalachia region, with plans to invest upwards of $10M into regional small businesses and stakeholders.
Explore the rest of the story to learn how Lightcast labor market insights supported real social impact in California, inspiring future business growth projects across the nation.
The Challenge: Breaking Through Blind Spots in Workforce Data
The employment social enterprises that partner with REDF predominantly target non-permanent employees. They intentionally hire workers who need training, giving people access to a real work environment before transitioning over to a longer-term role. To do this effectively, ESEs need to know where to direct their workers at the end of the experience, which requires a strong sense of the labor market.
“Part of why we love Lightcast so much is that the need for labor market data has been around for a very long time, and typically involves incredibly time-consuming, cost-intensive work,” explained Jeff Bergquist, Vice President of Strategy for REDF, “Reliable labor market intelligence has traditionally been scarce, even though it’s a critical component of the mission. If you don’t know that, you're kind of flying blind, and that's a problem.”
The Solution: Extensive Labor Market Data with Lightcast
To provide ESEs with the guidance they needed, REDF turned to Lightcast labor market data. Now, they can access real-time data to strengthen their understanding of the labor market across various states, regions and smaller metro areas.
One of the first big projects Lightcast data powered through REDF was The California Regional Initiative for Social Enterprise (CA RISE). Created to accelerate economic mobility and inclusion for individuals that experience employment barriers, this California program is the nation's first statewide partnership geared towards funding ESEs.
To determine which organizations and industries would most benefit from the program, and have the potential to effectively support those facing barriers to employment, REDF assessed the California labor market with Lightcast’s Developer tool. This analysis involved investigating employment and occupation availability across many levels, including:
Assessing population and workforce trends in a given geographical area: With regional data in Developer, REDF was able to access economy overviews, population demographics, and community indicators (social, economic, and housing characteristics) across California. With this information, they determined the state’s key industries and businesses, and where people facing barriers to employment could thrive locally.
Summarizing supply and demand for jobs in a particular industry: Industry snapshot profiles in Developer include wage data and growth trend information for various industry clusters and regional businesses. These profiles helped REDF assess if there was living wage potential and ample job opportunities within an industry, identifying ways for ESEs to grow their business and capitalize on industry opportunities.
Analyzing in-organization training programs and available talent: With Developer’s company talent profiles, REDF provided the recruiting information ESEs need, including top locations for targeted recruiting, industry skills needed by employees, and more. Now, ESEs are equipped to develop effective employee training programs so people facing barriers to employment have the skills they need for future job opportunities.
Backed by Developer labor market insights, the CA RISE program is at the forefront of making change and bettering local communities. “California is on the vanguard of actually trying to leverage the business community to help those that are most displaced from the labor market,” explained Bergquist, “With this program, Lightcast is, directly and indirectly, helping REDF shape policy in California.”
The Result: Business Growth and Development with Real Social Impact
Through CA RISE, REDF has delivered customized insights and strategy to 61 businesses within the program's first year. This support is provided to ESEs across the state that employ, train, and support talented Californians overcoming barriers to employment.
REDF’s work across California has begun to create lasting impacts for people that are typically unemployed. REDF’s Los Angeles specific version of the program, the Los Angeles Regional Initiative for Social Enterprise (LA RISE), has contributed to rates of homelessness decreasing for two consecutive years in LA for the first time ever.
"At REDF, we see economic power as more than just entering the workforce,” shares Maura Welch, Director of the REDF Capacity Building team, “It’s about helping people reach living-wage jobs and long-term success. By using data like Lightcast, we identify real opportunities, the skills needed, and build pathways that create true economic mobility."
With Lightcast labor market insights, REDF was able to create programs that have changed statewide policy and improved larger social issues across California. After the success of CA RISE, they’re focused on making a larger impact by expanding ESE support and programming across the nation.
Looking Ahead: Investing in the Future of Appalachia
REDF is now growing their services and impact goals to cover the entire nation, and using the vast labor market data Lightcast has to offer to bolster their work. For instance, when the REDF Impact Investing Fund (RIIF) built new funding streams dedicated to the Appalachian region, they used regional economy and industry analysis tools offered by the Developer labor market data to inform their investment strategy. Using regional economy and industry analysis tools offered by the Developer labor market data, REDF has begun projects to support development and growth across all of Appalachia.
Lightcast’s comprehensive industry and occupation data has already guided REDF’s work in Appalachia by identifying the businesses most critical to the region’s economy. These insights underscored the central role of small businesses, informing RIIF’s investment strategy behind the Appalachian Growth Fund and setting the stage for additional regional investment of $5M to grow the regional business ecosystem.
With Lightcast data, REDF is expanding opportunity nationwide—reducing homelessness, and fueling small business growth. Through these efforts, pathways are opening for people of all backgrounds to participate fully in the economy, making it stronger and more resilient for everyone.
