06 Mar NEW STUDY DETAILS PATHS TO HIGHER PAYING JOBS GROWTH IN MIAMI-DADE

MIAMI — February 20, 2020 — The Miami Foundation, a leading philanthropic organization in Miami-Dade County, today announced findings from the Greater Miami Workforce Asset Mapping report by the Council for Adult and Experiential Learning.

The report, commissioned as part of a three-year, $3 million AdvancingCities Challenge investment from JPMorgan Chase, identifies opportunities to prepare residents for 21st century economy living wage jobs in Greater Miami.

“This Workforce Asset Mapping Report takes a hard look at Miami-Dade’s labor market and identifies barriers and opportunities to increase access to and create more living wage jobs in Greater Miami,” said Loren Parra, director of public affairs for The Miami Foundation.

“At JPMorgan Chase, we want more people to share in the benefits of a growing economy by creating sustainable paths to careers that lead to prosperity and wealth for more individuals,” said Maria Escorcia, JPMorgan Chase’s Philanthropy Manager for Florida. “We are proud that the first phase of our investment will help identify the needs of small businesses in the community and provide training and support for local residents to fill those positions.”

Living Wage Careers

The report identified nine key growing occupations – Electricians Medical Secretaries, Aircraft Mechanics, Customer Service Reps, User Support Specialists, Sales Representatives, Maintenance and Repair Workers, LPNs/LVNs and plumbers and pipefitters.

Systemic Barriers

The report also identified six systemic barriers to access – scattered and inconsistent small business engagement, no systemic career pathways, confusion around career awareness initiatives, soft skills training in silos, training program roadblocks for employers, absence of talent attraction and retention strategies and workforce barriers – facing Greater Miami’s workforce and small business community leaders.

Small Business

The study focused on addressing the needs of small businesses, which accounts for 81% of the employment opportunities in Miami-Dade County. To address this, the Foundation will pilot two interventions and fund positions at the city of Miami aimed at supporting small businesses and residents seeking secure employment.

Click here to read the full report. Organizations interested in this grant opportunity are invited to schedule a pre-proposal discussion may contact De’Sean Weber, dweber@miamifoundation.org.

Last year, JPMorgan Chase provided a three-year, $3 million investment in Miami’s Resilient305 strategy as part of the firm’s AdvancingCities Challenge. The investment will fund work focused specifically on training local residents and businesses to be more resilient to chronic financial stresses, such as lack of access to well-paying jobs and insufficient business opportunities.

About The Miami Foundation: The Miami Foundation partners with donors to champion their causes and improve local quality of life. Since 1967, we’ve done this by taking leadership on civic issues, investing in our community and nurturing philanthropy. Thanks to our more than 1,000 donors, we currently manage more than $365 million in assets and have made over $400 million in grants that create opportunities for residents, make Miami-Dade County more resilient and foster home-grown creativity. Learn more at MiamiFoundation.org.

About JPMorgan Chase & Co.: JPMorgan Chase & Co. (NYSE: JPM) is a leading global financial services firm with assets of $2.7 trillion and operations worldwide. The Firm is a leader in investment banking, financial services for consumers and small businesses, commercial banking, financial transaction processing, and asset management. A component of the Dow Jones Industrial Average, JPMorgan Chase & Co. serves millions of consumers in the United States and many of the world’s most prominent corporate, institutional and government clients under its J.P. Morgan and Chase brands. Information about JPMorgan Chase & Co. is available at JPMorganChase.com.

About CAEL: The Council for Adult and Experiential Learning is a national non-profit organization whose mission is to remove barriers to lifelong learning, put meaningful credentials, and work within reach for all. Since its founding in 1974 CAEL has actively collaborated with government, business, labor, community-based organizations, higher education and economic development partners in addressing adult learning and skill development needs at both national and local levels. Learn more at CAEL.org.

Photo Credit: Robert G. Holmes