COVID-19

As the public workforce system continues to redefine and refine remote service delivery, many local workforce areas are converting their traditional in-person workshop content on job search skills into recorded PowerPoints they post to the Internet. For many job seekers, this can be overwhelming, providing them with too much information to absorb at a time when they are already stressed by information overload. Microlearning — a strategy that breaks longer content into smaller, hyper-focused lessons — offers an alternative approach that staff can use to deliver job search skill development programming.

A new blog post by Amanda Bombino and Liana Volpe examines the concept and benefits of microlearning. It also provides detailed descriptions of two microlearning strategies — audiovisual media-based microlearning and interactive microlearning — and the technology tools that support microlearning strategy development and delivery. Readers should note that the Heldrich Center is not endorsing any of the proprietary products mentioned in the blog post.

Amanda Bombino is a Research Intern and Liana Volpe is a Research Associate at the Heldrich Center.

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A new blog post examines the concept and benefits of microlearning for the workforce development system.

Unemployment and Mental Health: An Important Opportunity for Cross-Sector Action

heldrich_heather — Tue, 07 Nov 2023 14:34:55 +0000

Unemployment and Mental Health: An Important Opportunity for Cross-Sector Action

Published Date

November 8, 2023

heldrich_heather Tue, 11/07/2023 - 14:34

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Topic

Impact of COVID Pandemic-Related Job Loss on Mental Health and Well-Being

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Carl E. Van Horn, Ph.D.

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Dr. Carl Van Horn has co-authored a new Milbank Memorial Fund blog post

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Heldrich Center Director Dr. Carl Van Horn has co-authored a Milbank Memorial Fund blog titled Unemployment and Mental Health: An Important Opportunity for Cross-Sector Action, along with fellow New Jersey State Policy Lab research affiliates Joel Cantor, Dawne Marie Mouzon, and Jamie Walkup, regarding the impact of COVID-19 on mental health and unemployment.

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Heldrich Center for Workforce Development Director Dr. Carl Van Horn has co-authored a new Milbank Memorial Fund blog post.

Heldrich Center and New Jersey Small Business Development Centers Release Findings from Survey of New Jersey Businesses

heldrich_robb — Mon, 18 Oct 2021 13:56:37 +0000

Heldrich Center and New Jersey Small Business Development Centers Release Findings from Survey of New Jersey Businesses

Published Date

October 18, 2021

heldrich_robb Mon, 10/18/2021 - 13:56

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Announcement

Topic

New Jersey Businesses

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Heldrich Center and New Jersey Small Business Development Centers Release Findings from Survey of New Jersey Businesses

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In a new survey of 855 businesses, New Jersey business owners report they are recovering from the downturns they faced as a consequence of operating during the COVID-19 pandemic, but many indicate that they need additional support from the state and federal governments, including financing, technical assistance with business planning, and help with hiring workers.

The nonprobability online survey was conducted by the Heldrich Center for Workforce Development at Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey between July 1 and August 10, 2021 and sponsored by the New Jersey Small Business Development Centers (NJSBDC) with funding from the U.S. CARES Act from the U.S. Small Business Administration. In addition to NJSBDC, a range of partners helped promote the survey, which was available in English and Spanish, including regional chambers of commerce and the New Jersey Business Action Center. This is the Heldrich Center’s third survey of New Jersey businesses during COVID, following a November 2020 survey done in partnership with NJSBDC under its CARES Act initiative and a late May/early June 2020 survey conducted for the Governor’s Office.

The new survey’s respondents were primarily small businesses: three in four businesses had four or fewer employees. Over half (54%) of the businesses indicated they were women-owned, and 4 in 10 were minority-owned. All counties were represented, with Essex, Bergen, Middlesex, and Monmouth Counties having the most respondents, and there was a large concentration of professional and business service owners, as well as retail and wholesale and personal services.

Comparing the three surveys, in June 2020, business owners primarily reported looking for guidance on strategies for reopening, including complying with safety regulations and providing a safe environment for employees and customers. Many had furloughed workers. In November 2020, business owners indicated that they had made progress ensuring the safety of employees and customers, but they expressed concerns about rising debt and about losing significant revenue due to declines in both consumer demand and confidence as the winter months — and a second wave of the virus — approached. Many reported on the successes and challenges of pivoting to digital and virtual goods and services, as well as on other adaptations they were making such as changes to physical spaces. Arts and recreation, professional services, and restaurants reported particular challenges.

The new survey finds that a majority of New Jersey business owners have incorporated digital tools/technology in their operations, with 7 in 10 (71%) saying they use technology to interact with their customers on a regular basis. In addition:

4 in 10 (39%) have increased the use of automation technologies to replace tasks or processes previously done by workers, due to the pandemic.
3 in 10 (31%) respondent businesses have offered employees technology training.

Current major challenges include business planning (66%), financial/credit management (65%), bringing customers back to their business (57%), and finding workers for job vacancies (55%). Looking to the future, a majority of respondents — 7 in 10 — remain very or somewhat concerned about the pandemic’s impact on their businesses, with a majority expressing concern about increasing operational costs, and 4 in 10 concerned about supply chain disruptions in the future.

Among New Jersey’s women- and minority-owned businesses:

Over two thirds (68%) of women-owned businesses and three quarters (76%) of minority-owned businesses cited financial and credit management as a major challenge, compared to 57% of non-women/non-minority-owned businesses.
9 in 10 minority-owned businesses and 8 in 10 women-owned businesses say they will need access to credit/funding in the next 12 months and help with business planning or strategizing, compared to 7 in 10 non-minority-owned businesses and 6 in 10 non-women-owned businesses.
65% of women-owned businesses and 68% of minority-owned businesses strongly agreed that technical assistance would help stabilize or grow their businesses, compared to 36% of non-minority/non-women-owned businesses.

“Diversity in small business ownership is one of New Jersey’s greatest strengths. This survey makes clear that NJSBDC needs to develop targeted strategies to help our women- and minority-owned enterprises access financial and technical assistance,” said Kelly Brozyna, CEO and State Director of NJSBDC. “We have taken action and put in place a Capital Access Team to address these concerns with bilingual financial experts to work with all our business clients. And given the concerns our small businesses are expressing regarding hiring new workers, we look forward to partnering with the New Jersey Department of Labor, the New Jersey Economic Development Authority, the New Jersey Business Action Center, and others in promoting the state’s new Return and Earn program.”

The survey also captures some interesting differences between recently launched businesses — those that have been in operation for less than two years — and more mature enterprises. “New Jersey’s newer businesses expressed an increased focus on implementing sustainable or socially responsible business practices as well as a greater likelihood of having increased automation technologies since the pandemic started,” said Maria Heidkamp, the Heldrich Center’s Director of Program Development.

The survey development was led by Jessica Starace, Research Associate at the Heldrich Center. Sherrill Austin, Center Administrator, provided assistance.

For more details on the survey results, see the topline results and slide deck.

For additional information, please contact Maria Heidkamp at the Heldrich Center (heidkamp@rutgers.edu) or Kelly Brozyna at NJSBDC (kelly.brozyna@business.rutgers.edu).

Tagline

Heldrich Center/New Jersey Small Business Development Centers survey finds that most New Jersey businesses are recovering from the pandemic’s challenges, but looking to the future, many still need help. The survey found that 7 in 10 respondents remain very or somewhat concerned about the pandemic’s impact on their businesses, with 4 in 10 concerned about supply chain disruptions in the future.

Findings from the Heldrich Center/NJSBDC Summer 2021 Outlook/Technical Assistance Needs Survey

heldrich_robb — Thu, 14 Oct 2021 17:52:17 +0000

Findings from the Heldrich Center/NJSBDC Summer 2021 Outlook/Technical Assistance Needs Survey

Topic

New Jersey Businesses

COVID-19

Business Recovery

heldrich_robb Thu, 10/14/2021 - 17:52

Published Date

October 18, 2021

Type

Research Publications & Reports

Related Authors

Jessica Starace

Michael Calabria

Work Category

Program Development & Technical Assistance Products

Attachments

Heldrich_NJSBDC_Summer_2021_Survey_Presentation.pdf (1.81 MB)

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This slide deck presents findings from a July/August 2021 survey of New Jersey businesses about their operations and future plans. Examines major challenges faced by New Jersey businesses, technology, operational costs, and future training and hiring plans.

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Presents findings from a survey of New Jersey businesses about their operations and future plans.

Heldrich Center/NJSBDC Summer 2021 Outlook/Technical Assistance Needs Survey: Final Topline Survey Results

heldrich_robb — Thu, 14 Oct 2021 17:49:41 +0000

Heldrich Center/NJSBDC Summer 2021 Outlook/Technical Assistance Needs Survey: Final Topline Survey Results

Topic

New Jersey Businesses

COVID-19

COVID-19 Pandemic

Business Recovery

heldrich_robb Thu, 10/14/2021 - 17:49

Published Date

October 18, 2021

Type

Research Publications & Reports

Related Authors

Michael Calabria

Jessica Starace

Work Category

Program Development & Technical Assistance Products

Attachments

Heldrich_NJSBDC_Summer_2021_ Topline_Survey_Results.pdf (778.12 KB)

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Provides topline results from a survey of New Jersey businesses conducted in July/August 2021. Examines the impacts of the pandemic on businesses, the challenges businesses are facing, use of technology, organizational needs, and plans for the future, including hiring and training.

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Provides topline results from a survey of New Jersey businesses conducted in July/August 2021.

Van Horn Featured in Media Stories

heldrich_robb — Mon, 10 May 2021 17:14:58 +0000

Van Horn Featured in Media Stories

Published Date

May 10, 2021

heldrich_robb Mon, 05/10/2021 - 17:14

Type

Topic

Related Experts

Carl E. Van Horn, Ph.D.

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Carl Van Horn was recently featured in two media stories:

First, he addressed the subjects of the economy, the job market, and Unemployment Insurance in an interview with NorthJersey.com.

Second, Van Horn is interviewed in a new NPR Marketplace story where he discussed the future of work and how so much is uncertain at this point because of people’s behavior and employers’ telecommuting policies.

Van Horn is Director of the Heldrich Center and Distinguished Professor of Public Policy at Rutgers University.

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Carl Van Horn addresses the topics of employment and the future of work in recent media stories.

Van Horn on Unemployment During the Pandemic

admin — Thu, 22 Oct 2020 15:21:23 +0000

Van Horn on Unemployment During the Pandemic

Published Date

July 22, 2020

admin Thu, 10/22/2020 - 15:21

Type

Press Coverage

Topic

unemployment

Unemployment Benefits

Media Outlet

Sinclair Broadcast Group

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Carl E. Van Horn, Ph.D.

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Carl Van Horn is quoted in a Sinclair Broadcast Group story about the uncertainty of unemployment benefits as COVID-19 resurges in many parts of the United States and as Congress begins negotiations on a new pandemic relief package. Read more.

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Carl Van Horn quoted in story about the uncertainty of COVID-19 related unemployment benefits.

New Brief: A Review of Workforce Area Websites in Connecticut, New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania

admin — Thu, 22 Oct 2020 15:21:23 +0000

New Brief: A Review of Workforce Area Websites in Connecticut, New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania

Published Date

July 15, 2020

admin Thu, 10/22/2020 - 15:21

Type

Topic

One-Stop Career Services

Workforce Policy & Practice

Suddenly Virtual

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Liana Lin

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As a follow-up to the Heldrich Center’s recent brief, Suddenly Virtual: Workforce Services, Eight Weeks Later, we now offer Suddenly Virtual: A Review of Workforce Area Websites in Connecticut, New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania, which looks at the online resources and services offered by the 206 local workforce areas in Connecticut, New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania. The goal of this comprehensive review, by Heldrich Center Research Associate Liana Volpe, was to gain a better understanding of the extent to which local workforce areas have an online presence and how these individual areas are making information available online to their customers and job seekers more generally during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Heldrich Center reviewed the websites and social media pages for every local workforce area in the four aforementioned states. Three main themes emerged in the review of One-Stop Career Center online services:

Many areas had created COVID-19 resource pages.
Areas were focused on digitizing existing workshop content and curricula and putting that information online.
One-Stops were providing services online that they typically provided in-person, such as job search workshops, sharing of job leads, and job fairs.

Heldrich Center researchers also compiled a series of noteworthy practices and standout local areas by state. Through surveys and roundtable discussions with frontline staff, researchers found that a majority of frontline staff feel that the need for virtual services will remain in place, despite ongoing discussions about staff returning to physical office spaces. Moreover, frontline staff note that they believe adaptations for virtual operations have largely been for the better. For this reason, the Heldrich Center hopes to encourage idea sharing and collaboration amongst local workforce areas and across states as many in the public workforce system continue to adapt and adjust workforce operations to be effective in a virtual space.

Overall, the Heldrich Center has observed the strength and care of local workforce area staff and more generally the public workforce system’s agility and resilience during the pandemic.

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Examines new brief on how local workforce areas in four states are providing online resources and services during the pandemic.

Van Horn Quoted in Bloomberg Law Article

admin — Thu, 22 Oct 2020 15:21:23 +0000

Van Horn Quoted in Bloomberg Law Article

Published Date

July 20, 2020

admin Thu, 10/22/2020 - 15:21

Type

Announcement

Topic

U.S. Labor Market & Industry

Unemployment & Reemployment

Media Outlet

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Carl E. Van Horn, Ph.D.

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Carl E. Van Hor

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Dr. Carl Van Horn is quoted in a new Bloomberg Law Daily Labor Report article entitled, "Jobless Aid Ripe for ‘Stop-Start’ Delays if Stimulus Talks Stall.” The article examines how Congress will be contemplating a new COVID-19 relief package in the coming days as the current benefits to unemployed workers are set to expire next week.

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Dr. Carl Van Horn is quoted in a new Bloomberg Law Daily Labor Report article.

New Brief: Suddenly Virtual: Workforce Services, Eight Weeks Later

admin — Thu, 22 Oct 2020 15:21:22 +0000

New Brief: Suddenly Virtual: Workforce Services, Eight Weeks Later

Published Date

June 25, 2020

admin Thu, 10/22/2020 - 15:21

Type

Topic

Workforce Policy & Practice

Related Experts

Liana Lin

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An April 2020 survey by the Heldrich Center found that, after overcoming the initial shock and disruption caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, public workforce system staff had largely adopted virtual operations and honed their skills with remote teaming and virtual service delivery. After eight weeks of suddenly virtual operations, in June 2020, Heldrich Center researchers conducted a follow-up survey, hosted two roundtable discussions, and performed a website audit of the local workforce areas in Connecticut, New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania in order to assess their staffs’ current thinking on virtual services, remote teaming, and a potential return to in-person services.

In a new brief, Suddenly Virtual: Workforce Services, Eight Weeks Later, Heldrich Center researchers found that many of the issues staff reported in the early stages of virtual operations have been resolved, including most issues with staff technology, document sharing, and teaming. In the past eight weeks, local workforce areas have placed great emphasis on digitizing existing job seeker services, including activities such as recording PowerPoint presentations, using email to send job seekers materials and job leads, and more. Overall, staff have reached a “new normal,” which has led some individuals to begin to rethink existing service delivery structures and to think of new possibilities for customer-facing services.

Despite making such strides in the virtual space, staff reported that a return to in-person operations is looming, with a majority anticipating reopening by the end of summer 2020. From the survey responses, researchers found a disparity between frontline staff and managers regarding their comfort level with a return to their physical offices. Frontline staff expressed greater discomfort returning to their workplaces. An issue revealed in the roundtable discussions was the concern over siloed and fragmented plans to return to in-person operations. Questions on personal protective equipment provisions, state staff's plans to return, and the state Department of Labor’s plans to reopen were all largely unknown and of concern for roundtable participants.

One roundtable participant posed the question, “Why reopen?” This exemplifies the extent to which local workforce area staff have risen to the challenges of virtual operations and continue to adapt quickly and leverage the power of technology for the benefit of both staff and customers alike. The need for virtual services will continue, even as staff begin to return to their offices. As states continue to reopen, great care and consideration must go into the precautionary measures needed to safely resume operations to varying degrees in the physical American Job Center offices.

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Reports workforce staff members’ current thinking on virtual services, remote teaming, and a potential return to in-person services.