Head of Tec Centro Berks discusses importance of accessible and affordable workforce training.
Nearly 5 million Hispanic-owned businesses are making a significant impact on the U.S. economy, contributing more than $800 billion annually, according to recent data from the National Urban League and Unidos US. These businesses also play a crucial role in providing employment opportunities, with approximately 3 million workers employed by Hispanic-owned enterprises.
The remarkable growth and success of Hispanic-owned businesses highlight the importance of accessible and affordable workforce training.
According to Citigroup, the impact of systemic barriers in Black and Hispanic communities has resulted in losses of more than $16 trillion in the U.S. economy over the last 20 years due to income disparities and wage gaps. By investing in regional workforce training programs, we can address the challenges of poverty, unemployment and underemployment that persist in our communities.
Workforce Development Month and Hispanic Heritage Month are great reminders of the critical need for more opportunities for skilled training, especially in Pennsylvania’s third-class cities, which have a high percentage of Hispanic residents.
In Pennsylvania, 11.9% of Hispanics are unemployed. And those numbers are even higher in counties with third-class cities. Compare this with the 5.4% unemployment rate for whites. The problem is amplified by the fact that 28.35% of Hispanics in Pennsylvania don’t have a high school diploma, making it even more difficult to obtain family-sustaining jobs that offer livable wages and related benefits.
The Tec Centro Workforce Network is making strides in addressing this issue head-on. Founded in 2023, it already has established locations in Berks, Lancaster (home to two centers), Lebanon, and York counties, with another soon to be added in Dauphin. Each of the six locations is a self-governed 501(c)3 organization with its own local board.
Tec Centro Berks specifically provides no tuition cost, bilingual adult basic education and workforce training in careers that are in high demand in the local community, including fields such as allied health, culinary arts, and digital literacy. These career opportunities offer full-time employment that provides family-sustaining wages and benefits.
Adult learners typically pay a nominal processing fee for their program, while the actual cost — often totaling thousands of dollars — is subsidized by the center through a combination of charitable contributions, government grants, the Neighborhood Assistance program and philanthropy.
Most importantly, Tec Centro’s doors are open to everyone regardless of race, education, income or any other factor. The demographics of people served vary from location to location but primarily include diverse cultures, bilingual and non-English speakers who are commonly unemployed or underemployed and living at or below the poverty line.
Tec Centro is critical to helping local employers meet their workforce demands, which helps to sustain their businesses and contributes productively to the economic vitality of the region. And while locations are ramping up their programs as fast as possible, the waiting list far outpaces our ability to meet demand. Across all locations, there are over 2,200 individuals currently on our waitlist, and more than $8M is needed to fund this waitlist.
I urge our communities, leaders and lawmakers to recognize the strong connection between workforce development and celebrating Hispanic heritage. Diversity must be appreciated, celebrated and elevated, and this includes our growing Hispanic population. We must recognize the growing need for adequate and accessible workforce training to provide our multicultural and marginalized communities with greater opportunities for living-wage employment.
The two go hand-in-hand. A strong, healthy community comes from a strong, healthy workforce, and vice versa.
The Tec Centro Workforce Network has created a valuable blueprint for how communities can effectively come together to support a skilled workforce. But to grow this movement within our existing locations and into additional cities and states, it will require a collaborative effort of public and private partnerships and funding.
Whether you are a business owner, community leader, elected official, or someone who stands to benefit from workforce training services, you have the power to be an advocate. Make your voice heard, share your ideas, and be an active part of finding more solutions for workforce training in our commonwealth. The future of our community and economy depends on it.
Violet Emory is the executive director of Tec Centro Berks, which is one of six locations within the Tec Centro Workforce Network serving five counties including Berks, Dauphin, Lancaster, Lebanon, and York.
