When you help them identify obstacles on their path to success, you give them the first step toward finding a solution. That’s why its beneficial for every case manager to understand common employment barriers and learn to recognize these obstacles quickly so you’ll be better prepared to give your clients the support they need to get ahead.
We’ve gathered some of the top employment barriers we’ve come across in our fifteen years of helping workforce students and some solutions to overcome these
4 Common Client Employment Barriers
Here’s a look at some of the most common obstacles faced by clients eligible for federal workforce grants. When you have resources ready to address these needs, you can fast-track your clients toward success.
1. Lack of Transportation
In many smaller towns and cities, owning a car may be the only reliable means of transportation. If a client can’t afford to own a car, getting to school or work may feel impossible. Surprisingly, nearly 16% of adults earning below the poverty level lacked reliable transportation in 2022, according to U.S. News and World Report.
The first step is to investigate the public transportation system. Many areas throughout the United States have buses, metro lines, railways and even shuttles to get people across town. Your clients may qualify for subsidized fares.
If your community lacks adequate transportation, there are still quality online training programs available to help your clients learn new skills or even earn certifications or degrees. MedCerts Partner Solutions offers over 60 online, interactive certification training programs focused on the in-demand industries of healthcare and IT. These training programs can be taken from anywhere, anytime – without the worry of how to get to class.
2. Lack of Childcare
Another common employment barrier is a lack of childcare. Your client may be a parent of a child who’s too young for school or of school-aged children who need a place to go after school or during the summers.
Thankfully, many nonprofit agencies specialize in providing these services. You can connect your clients with the Boys & Girls Clubs, Big Brothers Big Sisters or other organizations that support working parents. Additionally, the adaptability of an online, flexible training program allows your clients can learn when it works for them, even if that’s after the kids have gone to bed or during naptime.
3. Lack of Soft Skills
Your clients may not have much experience with developing traits that are known as “soft skills,” such as communication, time management and problem-solving. When you start working with them, ask about the last time they had a job interview to gauge their knowledge of professionalism.
Luckily, these soft skills can be taught and MedCerts includes professionalism courses in all of their programs. For healthcare students, our Professionalism in Allied Health course teaches how to interact with other medical workers and patients in a hospital setting, which can be critical when dealing with sensitive personal information. Our information technology programs include an IT Professional Skills and Ethics in the Age of AI course to ensure students have the critical thinking, ethical awareness, cultural sensitivity and conflict resolution to succeed in this ever-evolving industry.
4. Lack of Hard Skills
Another reason your clients may be struggling to start their careers is that they lack the hard skills needed for the work. That’s where certification training comes in. These short-term, affordable programs may qualify for federal workforce grants that allow your clients to access new career opportunities without the burden of debt. To learn more about MedCerts Partner Solutions and our online training courses for in-demand careers like healthcare and information technology, meet with a workforce expert today.
