Thriving Workforce Blog

There are many reasons to hire someone with a criminal record, and considering this step is important to create a more inclusive and equitable workplace. While many employers are open to the idea of hiring an individual with a criminal record, doing...

Having a committed and hardworking team often requires relationships in the community and a lot of structure to support employee development—all things that are especially challenging as a small business.

“Just waiting for applications to come in,...

Even in a pandemic, the construction industry is still looking to hire skilled workers. One way to gain the skills for those good-paying jobs is to enter an apprenticeship.

An apprenticeship is an opportunity to learn a skilled profession in a...

You may have heard that central Iowa is facing a workforce shortage in skilled trades. Rapid growth in Greater Des Moines and an aging workforce are just a couple of reasons for this shortage. 

Tasked with thinking creatively about how to address...

By Seeta Mangra-Stubbs

Red ink on papers. $300 textbooks. An 8 a.m. math classes you might never use: Maybe college never sounded worth it to you, but everyone says getting a degree or at least some college experience makes a difference in finding a...

About 2,000 people are released from Iowa prisons and return to the central Iowa area each year (Dept. of Corrections). Finding a stable job is critical to a returning citizen's ability to build the sturdy foundation they need to be successful in...

In July, the Community Foundation of Greater Des Moines’ DonorConnect Working for Equity panel discussion highlighted racial employment gaps that exist in Central Iowa and how we can lead changes that create equitable opportunities for Black,...

By interviewing 17 people of color in a variety of health care positions, Central Iowa HealthWorks learned about what helps and what prevents people of color from advancing in health care careers. We shared our findings in part 1 of this two-part...

Every worker deserves a job with healthy and safe working conditions. The pandemic, however, has demonstrated that this is not a reality for far too many people.

Many people are forced to make difficult choices between taking jobs to provide for...

Health care employers are increasingly recognizing the value of hiring a diverse workforce to better serve their patient populations.

Since Central Iowa HealthWorks began in 2017, more than 450 individuals with barriers to employment have received...