This is a guest post by Jeffrey Weston Sleasman, Senior Director of Applied Research at the Fund for Our Economic Future.
As the Fund for Our Economic Future has worked to elevate and address mobility challenges facing Northeast Ohio’s workforce in recent years, we have come to understand that transportation and workforce development are interdependent and influential contributors to our region’s economic growth and well-being.
The Paradox Prize underscored this relationship time and again. This initiative sought solutions to the paradox facing too many Northeast Ohioans: They don’t have a car, so they can’t get a job. But since they can’t get a job, they don’t have a car. Eight teams across Northeast Ohio tested pilot solutions to solve this dilemma and helped us elevate key lessons for workforce development, economic development, and philanthropy to support better and more equitable worker mobility.
Public Transit is Key.
Among the clearest results from the Paradox Prize was the firm reinforcement that solutions to systemic transportation issues should be grounded in public transit—even independent interventions. Public transit systems like Greater Cleveland RTA, Akron Metro, and SARTA in Canton bridge the gap for those who lack personal transportation, fostering equitable access to employment across the region. It’s especially crucial for urban residents who rely on it to reach jobs in different parts of the region—and conversely, many residents face underemployment or unemployment as a direct result of diminished transit access.
A well-connected public transit system yields substantial economic advantages beyond the individuals who use it. It attracts businesses, stimulates job growth, reduces absenteeism, and increases effective income for workers, which boosts the local economy. And while transit plays a central role, it must be coupled with responsible employer practices and good public sector policy to be truly effective.
Transportation is a Talent Strategy.
Workforce development organizations are often very thoughtful about embedding transportation supports for program participants. This is great! Participants will ideally move on to good, stable jobs—if they can get to them. Workforce development organizations can be powerful advocates to help the employers they partner with understand and address transportation barriers to work.
Too few employers have sufficient information about how their employees get around—and even if they do, it rarely enters key decision-making. In late 2021, when the Fund launched a large-scale research and analysis effort to better understand “Where Are the Workers” in a time of seismic labor market shifts, the data further emphasized this situation: only 4% of employers listed transportation as a top HR/talent acquisition strategy during the previous two years and only 3% said it was something they were considering in the next five years. Yet more than half of working-age adults considered transportation as a barrier to applying for, finding, and keeping a job. And two-thirds of those not currently employed said transportation is a barrier to employment. Here is a non-exhaustive list of transportation-related measures employers can take to enhance workforce development:
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- Site Selection: When relocating or expanding, choosing locations near transit hubs or major routes expands the talent pool, eases commutes, and reduces congestion & environmental impact.
- Accessible Facilities: Use the principles of Universal Design by including things like ramps, elevators, and designated parking spaces to support individuals with disabilities. Locate buildings and entrances such that non-drivers can arrive easily and safely. This will expand the talent pool and promote inclusivity.
- HR Policies: Offer transit subsidies, flexible work hours, carpooling & telecommuting supports, and pre-tax commuter benefits to accommodate employees who use public transit.
- Additional Options: Any number of additional possibilities exist depending on an employer’s needs: Encourage carpools with Gohio Commute or Ride Amigos. Offer vanpooling via NOACA, which includes a guaranteed ride home. Or institute customized solutions like Via, Share, Commute with Enterprise, or Agile Mile.
- Active Transportation: Encouraging walking and cycling through infrastructure improvements like bike racks and pedestrian-friendly paths benefits both employees and the environment—and will result in long-term healthcare savings.
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Partnerships and Policies Matter.
While the Paradox Prize effected permanent improvements to worker mobility in many cases, the transportation barrier persists. Regional governments, employers, and community organizations can work together to address aging infrastructure, funding limitations and other challenges and create a brighter future for our workforce. A good example of this type of collaboration is the recent pilot partnership between GCRTA, Share Mobility, and the City of Solon to provide last-mile service between a transit center and a jobs hub, set to be replicated in the Aerozone. Further efforts will be necessary, such as securing funding for transit and helping reconnect riders and jobseekers to transit as it expands.
Smart policy changes can also be transformative. For example, the City of Cleveland recently reformed its zoning code to roll back parking mandates along high-frequency transit corridors. The result will be more residential, commercial, and industrial development that is easily accessible for residents who cannot or do not want to drive. Other localities would do well to follow suit.
The connection between transportation and workforce development in Northeast Ohio is symbiotic. Public transit is the linchpin, connecting residents to opportunities. However, to realize its full potential, it must be complemented by strategic and responsive employer practices, including strategic site selection, accessible facilities, and HR policies that accommodate transit-dependent employees. By embracing these measures, Northeast Ohio can spur economic growth, enhance job access, and improve residents’ quality of life.