Workforce Development

Rural Dislocated Worker Initiative

In the aftermath of the 2001 recession, layoffs and plant closings deprived thousands of rural North Carolinians of their livelihood, replacing financial security with long-term unemployment and reduced earnings. The Rural Dislocated Worker Initiative, which ran from 2004 through 2007, helped reshape North Carolina's response to this social and economic upheaval through a combination of research, direct service demonstration projects, and public policy development and advocacy. The Rural Center undertook this initiative in partnership with state, local and nonprofit agencies involved in workforce development, economic development and human services.

Dislocated workers: a definition

Dislocated workers represent a particular segment of the unemployed and underemployed population. They have lost jobs through no fault of their own, to events such as business closings and layoffs. Many, especially those with lower educational levels, are ill-prepared to make the transition to new economy jobs that require higher-level skills and technical know-how. (Individual workforce agencies employ a variety of technical definitions of dislocated worker. Read more about those definitions.)

A myriad of federal, state and local programs address unemployment and workforce development. Some are targeted specifically to dislocated workers. But there are many gaps and other shortcomings in available services, and navigating among them can be confusing and discouraging. With the Rural Dislocated Worker Initiative, the Rural Center sought to redress these problems and promote a coherent system of policies and programs that offer short- and long-term solutions for workers, their families and their communities.

Accomplishments

Action agenda. In April 2005, the center and partnering agencies released the “Dislocated Worker Action Agenda,” a set of 10 recommendations to address problems facing dislocated workers. The agenda continues to reshape North Carolina's response to worker dislocation, its causes and consequences through research, demonstration projects and public policy development. Read an update on the action agenda.

Promising practices. A second report,  “Back on Track: 16 Promising Practices to Help Dislocated Workers, Businesses and Communities,” describes successful programs helping workers find new jobs at decent wages.

Demonstration project. Project New Start demonstrated the ability of community organizations in hard-hit communities to provide intensive transition assistance to dislocated workers. Most of the workers served faced multiple barriers to re-employment, including limited education and inexperience in the job search, along with the distress caused by financial and housing crises. The Community Mobilization Project, launched in 2009, built on the lessons of Project New Start. Read the report, “Help for Dislocated Workers: Local nonprofits team with workforce agencies to help laid-off workers survive, find new jobs.”

Concept paper. National and state nonprofit organizations play specific roles after a natural disaster. National and state coalitions — such as National Voluntary Organizations Active in Disasters — help coordinate their efforts. This paper explores how similar coalitions could help in economic disasters, including major business closings and layoffs, and proposes creation of a pilot program testing the model. Read the paper, "The N.C. Resources to Recover Partnerships: A Concept for Economic Disaster Response.”