We are thrilled to have kicked-off of our Workforce Webinar Series for 2024. Our first session, held on Thursday, March 28th, brought to the forefront an invaluable discussion on "Strategies for Skills-Based Hiring," featuring Vanessa Rogers, Associate Vice President of Workforce Development at the Chamber of Commerce Hawaiʻi.

In collaboration with our partners, the Hawai’i Workforce Funders Collaborative Equity Lab is excited to launch our Workforce Webinar Series for 2024! We invite you to join us on Thursday, March 28th for an engaging conversation on "Strategies for Skills-Based Hiring" with Vanessa Rogers, Associate Vice President of Workforce Development from the Chamber of Commerce Hawai’i.

Last week HWFC had an opportunity to present the findings of our "A Good Job in Hawaiʻi" framework in a webinar hosted by Chamber of Commerce Hawaiʻi. We had the chance to share our learnings with employers, industry representatives, and training providers -- and we had the opportunity to engage these stakeholders directly on how we might all best support workers in finding and retaining the types of jobs they are asking for.

We envision a healthy economy in Hawaiʻi, built upon recognition of a symbiotic relationship between job seekers, training providers, and employers, centered on a model of work that aligns with the needs, values, and motivations of Hawaiʻi residents. These “good jobs” will both compensate workers at levels that allow current residents to remain in Hawaiʻi and provide opportunities to use their gifts and talents in a way that makes Hawaiʻi a better place to live for everyone. As you read this report and begin to envision what such a future could look like, notice how conversations with communities across the state begin to align around these common themes. Suddenly such a future seems more within reach.

If you have been following our recent posts, you may be aware that we are committed to understanding, shedding light on, and addressing the complex challenges faced by workers in our state. As we meet with community organizations, government agencies, or my neighbors on Hawaiʻi Island, we are consistently impressed by the strong relationships, the dedication to finding solutions, and the willingness to take risks on new approaches when stakeholders come together in one place to unite around a common need.

The Hawaiʻi Workforce Funders Collaborative is excited to fund and partner with Vibrant Hawaiʻi to gather input from youth, educators and employers islandwide, document assets, resources, readiness and recommendations to advance the goals of the Hawai’i P20 Partnership for Education: Connecting students to Work-based learning (WBL) opportunities to gain technical and employability skills in preparation for future careers.

The Hawaiʻi Workforce Funders Collaborative is looking for a candidate with experience convening stakeholders and managing projects in the non-profit, social impact, and/or philanthropic space. This position is a grant-funded, term-limited opportunity to implement an exciting new pilot initiative – the Hawaiʻi Worker Equity Lab.

The National Fund for Workforce Solutions is awarding $1 million to five communities to use Human-Centered Design to improve workforce programs and employment outcomes. The HCD approach requires a mindset that values empathy, avoids jumping to a particular solution, and embraces continuous learning.

Welcome to our newly launched website for the Hawaiʻi Workforce Funders Collaborative, where we aim to shed light on the challenges faced by workers in Hawaiʻi and elevate their voices to bring about positive change.