Workforce Development

For Manpower, corporate social responsibility extends well beyond just writing a donation check to a charitable cause. It’s about strengthening the diversity of our communities and creating opportunities for all people to participate in the workforce. It’s about focusing on the long-term view and developing solutions that are sustainable. Whether it’s helping an unemployed single mother return to the workforce, or giving a job to an immigrant when no one else will, our reward comes from knowing that we make a real difference – today and in the future.

All over the world, Manpower employees, partnering with community organizations, businesses and government, engage in workforce development programs that make a difference in people’s lives. Because of our relationships with both employers and individuals, we are uniquely positioned to determine where current and future skills gaps are, identify people who need help engaging with the workforce, and develop solutions that bring these two groups together, mutually benefiting both. In this way, we function as a “bridge” to employment for many who would otherwise be unemployed.

Our systems, programs and policies are designed to make the connection to work a viable option for those who need it. Our industry leading skills assessment processes and hiring policies help us ensure that people are not discriminated against. Rather, we focus on people’s abilities – not their disabilities.

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Please select from the links below to learn about Manpower's workforce development initiatives.

  

» Argentina » Belgium » Canada » Corporate » Europe » France » Hong Kong » Mexico » Sweden » United Kingdom » United States

Argentina Manpower Argentina developed its "Juntos por los Jóvenes" (Together for the Youth) program in association with the Dirección Nacional de la Juventud (DiNaJu), the Social Development Ministry, and the non-government organization “Fundación SES”. The aim of the program is to prepare economically disadvantaged youth who are about to enter the workforce, teaching them how to recognize and discover their strengths and talents to help them gain economic independence as well as self-confidence. Launched in 2004, the program has trained more than 1,500 youth in 40 cities across the country. Volunteers from more than 35 Manpower branch offices have carried out 100 workshops. In addition, more than 30 public and private associations have offered support and/or joined the program since its inception, helping it continue to grow. Argentina also developed a program dedicated to finding employment opportunities for people with disabilities called Oportunidades para Todos (Opportunities for All) and a Manpower volunteer program called Entrelazados (Intertwined). Belgium In 2005, Manpower Belgium won an important contract with a public employment organization in Wallonia to provide training to 1,500 jobseekers under the age of 30. As part of the public-private collaboration, Manpower developed two separate training programs designed to increase the employability of young people. Canada In 2005, Manpower Canada was recognized for its commitment to diversity with a detailed case study appearing in Workplace Diversity Update, a publication dedicated to diversity initiatives throughout the nation. The study noted: Manpower’s annual participation in People in Motion, the largest consumer trade show in Canada for people with disabilities. Manpower partnerships with the Canadian Paraplegic Association, Strategic Employment Services and Skills for Change, an organization that helps newcomers to Canada upgrade their qualifications and find employment. Corporate Manpower Inc. maintains its Global Learning Center, which provides free online training to its permanent and temporary employees around the world. The award-winning program has successfully enhanced the skills of over nine million people worldwide and there are currently over 3,600 free courses available, ranging from IT courses to general business skills. Europe Manpower’s commitment to eliminating barriers to employment for people with disabilities included becoming an official sponsor of the European Year of People with Disabilities (EYPD) to raise awareness among employers of the issues facing people with disabilities in European society. The Year was designed by its sponsors, the European Disability Forum (EDF) and the European Commission, to focus maximum attention on the challenges facing people with disabilities in European society and to generate momentum that will lead to long-term improvements in the situation facing disabled individuals. In conjunction with the EYPD, the Working with Disabilities report was produced by Manpower for use as a tool with Manpower's 250,000-strong European customer base, thus enabling employers to better understand the issues and help eliminate barriers to the employment of people with disabilities. At the end of year, EYPD awarded Manpower with the CSR Award for its merits regarding the integration of people with disabilities into the workforce. France Manpower France has entered into several partnerships to facilitate its CSR initiatives, including: Manpower France recently launched a program designed to help the long-term unemployed improve their chances of finding a job. We call it Manpower Placement -- a skills- and confidence-building program designed to provide participating candidates with individualized coaching and support. Participants are trained in essential job-seeking skills, including how to target and research a potential employer, interview preparation and personal appearance tips. In 2006, working in cooperation with local government agencies, social service organizations and other associations, Manpower Placement helped 67% of the program's 5000 participants secure stable employment. Since 1997, Manpower France has been involved in a partnership with FACE (Foundation for Action to Combat Exclusion), which involves corporations dedicated to enlisting companies in the struggle against exclusion from the work force and developing concrete means of action to that end. Since joining FACE, Manpower has participated in local programs aimed at developing the employability of disadvantaged persons through temporary work assignments. In 2006, Manpower and FACE launched The Job Academy in Saint-Etienne aiming to improve employment of the economically-challenged population in the region. Manpower forged a unique partnership with France’s national employment agency, APNE, to help them find a better way to match jobseeker’s skills with positions available in the services sector. To do this, specialized professional skills and aptitude tests were developed to evaluate ANPE’s candidates who are seeking employment in areas such as office/administrative, accounting and finance, information technology, sales and other service jobs. In its first year, Manpower tested more than 500 French job seekers, allowing them to be matched with jobs best suited for their skills. In 2005, Manpower France announced a partnership with Agefiph, an association for the integration of people with disabilities, to increase workforce opportunities for people with disabilities. In 2005, Manpower France launched a Web site for young jobseekers, TonJob.com, in partnership with NRJ, a popular national radio station for youth. Supporting young people looking for a job, the Web site provides access to a specially tailored job database and offers advice and tips on resumes and presentation letters. Hong Kong In 2006, Manpower was recognized by the Hong Kong Council of Social Service as a “Caring Company” for the third year in a row as a result of the partnership between Manpower and Rehabilitation Power, an organization dedicated to training and developing people with disabilities to enable them to gain meaningful work in the community. Japan Manpower Japan formed a partnership with Hewlett Packard (HP) on a program called SEED Center, which provides job training for people with disabilities. SEED Center was developed by HP to provide training and paid work to people with disabilities, thus increasing their likelihood of securing a good job. To ensure that the company was providing the most comprehensive and relevant training program, HP approached Manpower Japan, who provided software-based support for the program through its SkillWare® training program, free of charge. In addition to providing software for the program, Manpower Japan has also committed to placing program graduates in positions at Manpower or other suitable companies. Mexico Manpower Mexico developed an innovative program called Caminemos Juntos (Walking together) in partnership with Mexico's Secretary of Labor, non-government organizations (NGOs), interested companies and educational institutions. Through this program, Manpower works to bring job opportunities to people with disabilities by selecting and recruiting disabled staff to work in different companies at no charge to the company. Manpower Mexico placed an on-site job center on the campus of LaSalle University, where more than 2,000 job vacancies are offered directly to students, and conferences on various business skills are presented by Manpower employees. Manpower Mexico receives frequent recognition from national public and private organizations for excellence in corporate social responsibility. Recent honors include: The Mexican Labor Ministry and President of Mexico, Vicente Fox, honored Manpower as one of 19 companies that were named an Inclusive Firm for hiring people with disabilities. The President of Mexico and CONEVyT (Mexican Council for Education and Labor) recognized Manpower for supporting corporate responsibility programs that provide training and employment to disadvantaged groups. Manpower was named a Socially Responsible Business in 2005 by the Mexican Center for Philanthropy for achieving high standards in four areas: corporate ethics, community involvement, environment and work/life balance. United Kingdom Manpower's assessment of the UK labor market is that over the next few years it will continue to tighten. As birth rates fall and demand rises the UK needs to become much more efficient at getting those people who at present find issues like age, lack of qualifications, disability, race or a criminal record blocking them, into sustainable and worthwhile work. To reintroduce these people into the workforce with refined skills, Manpower joined with JobCentre Plus and Cap Gemini Ernst & Young to form a unique public/private sector joint venture company, Working Links. Since its launch in April 2000 Working Links has placed tens of thousands of people into work with well over 80% still in work after 13 weeks - a significantly better result than any previous initiative in the public or private sectors - and maintained a profile that shows that the Working Links approach is equally effective for racial minority applicants, again something not previously achieved. United States In the United States and Canada, Manpower’s workforce development program, TechReach, is designed to prepare unemployed and underemployed individuals for well-paying careers in information technology positions. It includes intensive training, certification, job placement and mentoring in an effort to provide businesses with a new source of skilled technical employees. Today, TechReach is active in 45 locations throughout the United States and Canada. Since the program was created, more than 1,000 people have graduated from the program and over 350 have found jobs in our partner organizations. Manpower and the US Department of Labor (DOL) forged a partnership in May 2003 to help laid off, lower-skilled or disadvantaged people find work. Now in its fourth year, this partnership has resulted in various CSR activities: Manpower is in the pilot stage of the DOL’s Ticket-to-Work program, which creates opportunities for people with disabilities who are ready to work, having implemented the program in four states as of October 2005: Alabama, Florida, Mississippi and Virginia. Manpower acts as a service provider at the DOL’s OneStop Career Centers, which offer job counseling, training, job postings and access to staffing companies for those who lack skills or are from a lower socio-economic background, as well as younger workers, disabled workers, older workers and workers in need of retraining. In recognition of its dedication to finding workforce solutions for people with disabilities, Manpower was named Employer of the Year in 2004 by both the Association of Persons in Supported Employment (APSE) and the National Disability Council. Manpower US is partnered with the America Association for Retired Persons (AARP) to provide training, skills enhancements and assistance securing employment opportunities. Sweden Manpower and the Swedish Electricians Union recently established a cooperative agreement to address the country's critical shortage of trained electricians, which is currently estimated at 10,000. In one year's time, that shortage will grow to 20,000. A lack of trained electricians represents a serious challenge to both personal safety and Sweden's overall business growth. In addition to creating more trainee jobs, the initiative is designed to increase interest among under-represented groups in careers as electricians and provide a sustainable opportunity for Sweden's long-term unemployed, including women, youth and Sweden's growing immigrant population. By the end of 2006, a total of 900 long-term unemployed joined the six-month training program.

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