WILMINGTON — United Way of Delaware and the Delaware Racial Justice Collaborative have released a research study "Advancing Racial Equity in Delaware's Workforce Development System."

Urban Institute, selected by United Way of Delaware through an RFP process, led the Study, which examines Delaware's efforts to promote equity within its workforce development system.

It emphasizes the impact of systemic barriers and historical inequities on people of color, resulting in persistent disparities in employment and economic opportunities in the state.

The study provides a comprehensive analysis of the current landscape of workforce development and training programs in Delaware. It highlights the best practices of providers prioritizing equity and equitable access in their program implementation.

A matrix of over 600 programs is available for reference at uwde.org/workforce/.

To address the disparities identified, the study proposes several recommendations. It suggests implementing targeted interventions to meet the specific needs of communities of color. This includes creating culturally responsive training programs, offering mentorship opportunities, and improving access to support services like childcare and transportation.

Programs should emphasize promoting diversity and inclusion within the workforce development system. The study recommends establishing comprehensive data collection and reporting systems to monitor and track racial disparities.

Finally, cross-sector collaboration and partnerships are essential for advancing equity.

The complete study can be downloaded in PDF format at uwde.org/workforce/.

Interested individuals can visit the UWDE website or contact Laurie Girardi at lgirardi@uwde.org for further information about the report.