Across the country, workforce leaders face a common challenge: job seekers with barriers to employment are falling through the cracks. Nonprofits, funders, and government agencies want to connect people to training and quality jobs—but without clear data on local needs, investments often miss the mark.
That’s where RiseKit’s needs assessment comes in. By mapping barriers, bottlenecks, and opportunities in each community, RiseKit helps workforce ecosystems identify where to invest and how to coordinate systems for maximum impact.
Why Workforce Needs Assessments Matter
Every city has unique workforce dynamics, but consistent patterns emerge:
- Barriers: Housing insecurity, childcare gaps, lack of transportation, limited digital access, and returning citizen challenges.
- Bottlenecks: Siloed referral systems, underutilized training programs, low employer visibility into untapped talent.
- Opportunities: Better resource coordination, capacity-building for nonprofits, and technology that streamlines case management.
A workforce needs assessment provides a diagnostic blueprint for funders and governments. It shines light on the hidden gaps that limit throughput from training to sustainable employment—and informs investments that truly move the needle.
From Needs to Proven Impact: The GitLab Foundation Case Study
The RiseKit model has already been tested at scale. With support from the GitLab Foundation, RiseKit expanded from Chicago into Memphis, Denver, and Grand Rapids. The outcomes were clear:
- 9,560 job seekers signed up (139% above goal)
- 1,462 training or job placements (46% above goal)
- $18 average placement wage, driving a 23.8% income increase
- For every $1 invested, job seekers gained $519 in lifetime earnings—creating over $200M in economic value
Why Funders and Governments Should Act Now
A RiseKit needs assessment is not just research—it’s the first step toward system-level impact. By combining local landscape diagnostics with proven interventions, RiseKit enables:
- Funders to maximize ROI on workforce investments
- Governments to improve efficiency in safety net and workforce programs
- Nonprofits to reduce silos and track participant progress more effectively
The result? A more coordinated ecosystem where residents move from training into stable, family-sustaining jobs.
Ready to understand and address workforce barriers in your community?
Launch a RiseKit Needs Assessment today to uncover hidden gaps, align systems, and lay the groundwork for scalable, high-ROI workforce strategies.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What is a workforce needs assessment?
Who benefits from a RiseKit needs assessment?
Nonprofits, workforce boards, funders, and government agencies all benefit. The assessment provides a shared data-driven blueprint to guide collaboration and investment.
How does the GitLab Foundation case study prove ROI?
RiseKit’s partnership with GitLab Foundation delivered a 519x return on investment, showing that a small investment in workforce coordination and technology can generate massive long-term economic benefits.
Can RiseKit customize assessments for different regions?
Yes. RiseKit has delivered assessments and solutions across cities like Houston, Memphis, and Grand Rapids, tailoring the process to each community’s needs.
What happens after the assessment?
The assessment informs the launch of capacity-building programs, resource alignment, and technology rollouts—ensuring insights lead to action and measurable outcomes.