The Roadmap for Racial Equity: An Imperative for Workforce Development Advocates

The Roadmap for Racial Equity recognizes the historical disparities in employment and income as well as the challenges faced by people of color with deep generational roots and immigrants in the United States. Moreover, the report illustrates how existing workforce development policies intentionally create systemic barriers to people of color and recommends policy solutions/interventions for both state and federal levels with specific actions to take to eventually build an equitable employment system and diverse racial workforce.

Recommended policies focus on systematic support, such as local racial equity infrastructure, educational pathway development, and apprenticeship opportunity advancement as it is critical to achieve racial equity and economic stability among people of color in the United States.

The report provides actionable recommendations for policymakers, program administrators, and other stakeholders to address racial equity issues in workforce development, such as access to training and job opportunities. It also helps inform the development of new programs or the improvement of existing programs that promote racial equity and hold organizations accountable for racially diverse working environments.