Impact

Commonwealth Corporation is a quasi-public workforce development agency that strengthens the skills of Massachusetts youth and adults by investing in innovative partnerships with industry, education and workforce organizations.

In Fiscal Year 2021, Commonwealth Corporation managed training programs, in collaboration with regional partners, to support a diverse set of populations, including unemployed/ underemployed, incumbent workers, youth, and justice-involved individuals.

Youth Population

Business Partners

0 +

Participants Served by YouthWorks

0 +

Incumbent Workers

Business Partners

0 +

Participants Served by the Workforce Training Fund Program

0 +

Unemployed / Underemployed

Business Partners

0 +

Participants Served by Workforce Competitiveness Trust Fund, Learn to Earn, and Career Technical Initiative

0 +

Justice-Involved

Business Partners

0 +

Participants Served by Re-Entry and Department of Youth Services

0 +

Note: i) Youth population reflects Summer 2021 youth count placed at worksites; ii) Incumbent worker total includes training counts of the general and express programs, among grants closed in FY 2021. iii) Unemployed / underemployed total combines new and carry-over participants from grants active in FY 2021 from WCTF, LTE, and CTI. iii) Justice-Involved total is reflective of DYS LEAD participants, excluding Re-Entry due to COVID disruptions. CommCorp additionally serviced 1,200+ participant through SSYI. Number of Business Partners reflect number of connected employers for Unemployed/Underemployed programs at time of application, number of unique businesses receiving incumbent worker support, number of committed employers for DYS youth, number of active placement sites for YouthWorks.

Youth Populations

Youth Job Placement by Sector for Summer 2021

During Summer 2021:

YouthWorks received 5,000+ applicants
Saw 3,503 participants placed at 516 worksites.

Non Profit

2,296

Private

307

Public

1,156

Blank

259

Incumbent Workers

Express Program Participants by Sector

100+ business partners participated in General program; 400+ businesses participated in Express program, among grants closed and in progress in FY 2021.
Dollar dispersed for General program accounts to $8.2 million (cost per participant of around $1,100) and $1.7 million for Express program (cost per participant of ~$490).

Note: Total reflective of WTFP grants closing in FY 2021 and those currently in progress.

Investing In Workers Delivers Positive ROI For Employer Partners & the Economy

Job Growth by Fiscal Year(WTFP = Grantees That Completed Grants in FY)

Unemployed / Underemployed

On average, programs targeting unemployed / underemployed populations report a completion rate of 90%, and a placement rate of 82% at a place of employment.
84% of participants are low income and or receiving public benefits.
Roughly 56% of participants are women; 68% are non-White.
Dollar dispersed accounts to $3.6 million, with a cost-per participant rate of ~ $3,500.

Note: Weighted average across completed grants FY13-FY17, excluding FY17 ABC. Completion rate reflects those who successfully exited the program out of all participants. Placement rate reflects the share of successful completers who received a job placement at 30-day retention mark.