| dc.description.abstract | The Delaware Department of Labor is a state agency that manages Delaware’s labor system. The Department's primary mission is to ensure the State of Delaware maintains a healthy and balanced relationship between business and available labor pools. Since 2022, persistent data from the United States Department of Labor reveals that Delaware has consistently faced an unemployment rate exceeding the national average, posing a sustained economic challenge for the state. The purpose of this study was to assist the Delaware Department of Labor with establishing an enhanced system to facilitate the development of competitive applications for individuals with non-traditional pathways to employment. The methodology used to research solutions for helping individuals seeking employment included the formation of project questions, literature searches, data collection involving the administration of interviews and surveys, and data analysis. The following four key findings were identified through the analysis of data. The provision of one-on-one support is considered one of the most effective strategies for assisting applicants with generating competitive applications, Individuals seeking employment identified a lack of individualized and comprehensive support services, such as food, transportation, clothing, housing, training, and social assistance, as primary barriers to securing employment, Skills development and acquisition are considered essential by policy makers and hiring managers for securing employment across diverse demographics, and a significant majority of surveyed individuals expressed a strong desire and readiness to participate in skill-enhancing opportunities if given the chance. | |
