Labor-Force-Based Development: A Community-Oriented Approach to Targeting Job Training and Industrial Development

Efforts of community groups and local governments to gain jobs for a specific pool of unemployed workers often suffer from a limited and fragmented approach that does not give sufficient priority to the unique conditions, skills, and experience of the workers themselves. This article suggests a remedy. It documents the shortcomings of traditional frameworks for addressing the employment needs of specific pools of labor such as dislocated workers or segregated communities. In addition, the authors report on methods and strategies they are developing that enable policymakers and community groups to use skills and available training resources as an anchor for community economic development strategies. Three brief case studies that illustrate different applications of the methodology and strategic approach are also presented.