The Civic Coalition to Save Lives, with support from the Truist Foundation, engaged Econsult Solutions, Inc. (ESI) to examine how workforce development can serve as a long-term gun violence prevention strategy in Philadelphia. Following a historic rise in gun violence between 2020 and 2022, local leaders and community partners sought to better understand how employment barriers, economic instability, and limited career pathways contribute to violence risk among populations most vulnerable to gun violence, particularly Black and Brown men ages 18 to 34. The study was designed to assess Philadelphia’s existing workforce development ecosystem, identify barriers faced by vulnerable residents, evaluate current intervention models, and recommend practical strategies to strengthen pathways into stable employment.
ESI conducted a multi-phase research and strategy engagement process that combined policy analysis, labor market research, stakeholder engagement, and geographic mapping. The team first completed a landscape scan of Philadelphia’s workforce development system, cataloging public, nonprofit, and employer-led resources available to justice-impacted individuals and those at elevated risk of gun violence. ESI then analyzed demographic, labor force, and public safety data to identify geographic overlaps between unemployment, workforce assets, and concentrations of gun violence. This included mapping workforce development programs relative to target populations and public transportation access.
To better understand lived experience barriers, ESI synthesized findings from listening sessions and focus groups with participants in P3 and Beat the Block, supplemented by interviews with workforce providers, reentry organizations, and institutional stakeholders. ESI also evaluated best-practices and high-opportunity employment sectors based on wages, hiring accessibility, long-term demand, and training feasibility, culminating in an actionable roadmap to improve workforce pathways as a violence prevention tool.
ESI incorporated direct participant feedback through listening sessions with individuals enrolled in Pushing Progress Philly and Beat the Block, ensuring that recommendations reflected real barriers and opportunities experienced by the target population. The team also interviewed leadership from workforce organizations, reentry service providers, and City agencies, among others. Engagement with practitioners and community partners helped validate findings and identify partnership opportunities across sectors.
The study found that Philadelphia has a strong and growing network of workforce development resources, but critical gaps remain in connecting vulnerable residents to long-term career opportunities. Additionally, the study established a long-term roadmap for integrating workforce development into Philadelphia’s public safety strategy.
