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Helping long-term unemployed return to the workforce

New tools for job seekers, employers, and community leaders

Deloitte and The Rockefeller Foundation—in support of the White House National Economic Council—have collaborated to develop handbooks to expand opportunities for the long-term unemployed. These unique resources—based on interviews with employers, job seekers, and employment-focused organizations across the US—are designed to help job seekers re-tool their job search, empower employers with tools to tap into this talent pool, and enable communities to work together to mitigate this economic challenge.

"Deloitte is committed to helping tackle the long-term unemployment challenge by providing job seekers, employers, and community leaders with resources to connect dedicated workers with open talent needs and strengthen America's workforce."

 

- Jim Moffatt, CEO, Deloitte Consulting LLP

It's the right thing to do

The Bureau of Labor and Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, reported that as of September 2014, more than 3 million Americans (of all ages, ethnicities, geographies, industries, and education and experience levels) were long-term unemployed—actively seeking work for more than 27 weeks without success. One of the worst legacies of the Great Recession, long-term unemployment is the defining employment challenge of our post-recession economy.

More than 300 leading companies, including Deloitte and 20 members of the Fortune 50, have signed on to the White House’s Best Practices for Recruiting and Hiring the Long-Term Unemployed. These companies have committed to addressing this issue not only because it’s the “right thing to do,” but because it also makes business sense. 

Many organizations are turning away viable, high-quality candidates for one reason: They’ve been looking for work longer than other candidates.

For job seekers

This handbook, for job seekers with an employment gap of 27 weeks or longer, includes:

  • Recommendations for retooling the job search, including personal stories and lessons learned from the previously long-term unemployed and employers
  • Overview of available resources
  • Checklist for finding a job while long-term unemployed
  • Interactive exercises and activities
Download the guide

For employers

Handbook for employers, which includes:

  • Business case that details the business drivers for hiring long-term unemployed
  • Maturity model to help businesses assess their current state of talent acquisition practices as they relate to hiring long-term unemployed
  • Recommendations to improve talent acquisition processes to improve hiring and retention of long-term unemployed
  • Vignettes and case studies from employers about successful practices

Plus: Access the toolkit to help your organization implement recommendations and move along the maturity model.

Download the handbook for employers

For community leaders

A guide for local communities, which includes:

  • A 4-step plan to help mobilize support in local communities
  • Recommendations to develop a local strategy for addressing long-term unemployment
  • Guidelines on identifying your local long-term unemployment ecosystem
  • Sample action items for each community leader to mitigate long-term unemployment
  • Talking points on how to advocate for long-term unemployed
     
Download the guide to engage your community
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