Help Philadelphia jobseekers connect to life-changing employment
Skills Inititiative graduates increased their income by an average 15% after four weeks of programming
Skills Inititiative graduates increased their income by an average 15% after four weeks of programming
The Skills Initiative builds bridges between employers and talent
For many talented Philadelphians, opportunity feels just out of reach. The Skills Initiative (formerly the West Philadelphia Skills Initiative/WPSI) has spent the last 14 years helping our neighbors connect to jobs at this city's most sought after employers to break cycles of intergenerational poverty as they work to build family wealth.
Since its founding, The Skills Initiative has solidified its role as one of the highest performing workforce intermediaries in the country by bridging the divide between unemployed Philadelphians seeking opportunity to employers seeking talent. The Skills Initiative is a year-round, cohort-based, employer-driven training model that harnesses the hiring power of the area’s universities, health systems, and other major employers, while cultivating our neighbors’ innate drive and potential.
The program’s impact on workers and their families has been palpable. Over its lifetime, The Skills Initiative made job placements for 89.9% of graduates, helping them overcome an average of 20.36 weeks of pre-program unemployment. 83% of graduates have remained in their positions 12 months later, nearly twice the retention rate for the typical workforce program. And with a current average starting wage of $22.07 per hour, The Skills Initiative has fostered the payment of more than $122 million in wages over time through employer partners.
