Barriers to Unemployment:

Who Are Milwaukee’s Unemployed Jobseekers?

Primary Research Questions

Are certain barriers to employment particularly common among the chronically unemployed in Milwaukee? If so, what policy changes could be considered?

Unemployment & Labor Force Participation - 2013

22%

12% 10% 8%

49%

38% 39%

27%

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

100%

Black/African American

Hispanic/Latino Asian White/Caucasian

Unemployed

Unemployed OR Not in Labor Force

Male Unemployment & Labor Force Participation - 2013

26%

12% 9% 9%

54%

28% 35%

27%

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

100%

Black/African American

Hispanic/Latino Asian White/Caucasian

Unemployed

Unemployed OR Not in Labor Force

Female Unemployment & Labor Force Participation - 2013

19% 13% 11%

6%

45% 48% 43%

27%

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

100%

Black/African American

Hispanic/Latino Asian White/Caucasian

Unemployed

Unemployed OR Not in Labor Force

Educational Attainment by Race 2014

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90%

100%

All Races/Ethnic Groups

Black/African American

Hispanic/Latino

Bachelor's degree or higher

Some college/Associate degree

High school diploma/GED

Less than HS diploma/GED

Milwaukee Area Workforce Investment Board Ø WIOA Adult Ø WIOA Dislocated Worker Ø  FoodShare Employment and Training Ø Windows to Work

Wisconsin Department of Children and Families Ø  Transform Milwaukee Jobs YWCA Southeast Wisconsin Ø  Enhanced Transitional Jobs Demonstration

Data Sources/Programs Analyzed

Limited education/skills

•  No high school diploma or GED

Limited transportation options

•  No valid driver’s license

Criminal backgrounds

Parental status and responsibilities

•  Head of household / Non-custodial parent

Employment Barriers

Mawib Program Participants (N = 6,948)

Participation 1,295 total participants in 2014 Qualifications •  18 years of age or older •  Citizen or noncitizen authorized to work in US •  Meet military registration requirements (males only)

Priority is given to recipients of public assistance, other low-income individuals, and veterans and eligible spouses.

Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) – Adult

WIOA Adult – Demographics

90%

73%

68%

59%

0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%

Head of household

African American

Under age 40

Female

WIOA Adult Participants – Barriers

15%

31%

38%

7%

0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%

Multiple barriers

Criminal background

No driver's license

No high school diploma or GED

FoodShare Employment & Training Program (FSET)

Participation 3,915 total participants in 2014 Qualifications •  18 years of age or older •  FoodShare recipient •  Citizen or noncitizen authorized to work in US

FSET – Demographics

64%

80%

64%

52%

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90%

Head of household

African American

Under age 40

Female

FSET – Barriers

42%

28%

66%

29%

0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%

Multiple barriers

Criminal background

No driver's license

No high school diploma or GED

Participation 964 total participants (January 2014 – June 2015) Qualifications •  18 years of age or older

o  If age 24 or older, at least one dependent child •  Unemployed for previous four weeks or longer •  Ineligible for unemployment compensation and not receiving W-2

At least one of the following: •  Child support order in place •  Child reunification plan in place •  Ex-offender

Transform Milwaukee Jobs

Transform Milwaukee Jobs

89%

95%

77%

85%

0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%

Non-custodial parents

African American

Under age 40

Male

Transform MKE Jobs Demographics

61%

95%

58%

20%

0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%

Multiple barriers

Criminal background

No driver's license

No high school diploma or GED

Transform MKE Participants Barriers

All 6 Programs – Demographics N = 8,668

72%

58%

54%

0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%

African American

Under age 40

Male

All 6 Programs – Barriers N = 8,668

39%

42%

50%

23%

0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%

Multiple barriers

Criminal backgrounds

No driver's license

No high school diploma/GED

All 6 Programs – Barriers

60%

19%

0

200

400

600

800

1,000

1,200

1,400

1,600

1,800

2,000

Male Female

Criminal Background No Criminal Background

•  Limited education/skills •  Limited transportation options •  Criminal backgrounds and incarceration •  Parental status and responsibilities •  Lack of work history •  Length of unemployment •  Poor basic employment (“soft”) skills •  Physical and mental health issues/disabilities •  AODA issues/drug testing •  Lack of stable housing/affordable housing near jobs •  Limited spoken and/or written English •  Discrimination for any reason

Potential Barriers

1.  Half (50%) of the unemployed Milwaukee residents who take part in workforce development programs lack valid driver’s licenses.

2.  Criminal backgrounds are an issue for a majority of men (60%) who participate in workforce programs in Milwaukee.

3.  Lack of high school diploma/GED is an issue for fewer people (23%), but may be more difficult to overcome with new GED exam.

4.  Data on many workforce barriers is not tracked by agencies, and in some cases, would be difficult to measure.

Observations

Transit Research

Transit Research

Last mile challenge •  Oak Creek, Mequon

Trip time on transit is prohibitive •  Brookfield

Bus service was attempted before but eliminated •  New Berlin, Menomonee Falls, Franklin

Transit exists, but not designed for reverse commuters

•  Menomonee Falls

Common Transit Challenges

•  Bus stop consolidation

•  Transit signal prioritization

•  Bus-only lanes or shoulders

•  Bus rapid transit (BRT)

Possible Solutions to Improve Transit Speed & Efficiency

Marijuana Laws in Milwaukee

MarijuanaLawsinMilwaukee1st Time Marijuana Possession Cases

January 2012

March 2015

4,554 total (first-time) marijuana possession cases

12 cases (11 individuals) resulted in jail sentences

Small-Scale Marijuana Arrests

1,085

974

779

536

223

123 106 77

2012 2013 2014 2015

Municipal

State

Median HH Income Marijuana Arrests Violent Crime

NextSteps

§  Transit“lastmile”study

§  Researchonpolicyop6onstoaddresscriminalbackgrounds