Employment and Training Services Go Digital

Abstract

Employers nationwide have increasingly adopted virtual hiring strategies, accelerated by the COVID-19 pandemic, especially in traditionally slower sectors like retail and food service. As part of the Building Evidence on Employment Strategies (BEES) project, workforce programs adapted to this digital shift, blending in-person and virtual services to assist clients with online job searches, virtual interviews, and skill development in response to expanded use of platforms like LinkedIn and Indeed. Despite benefits like improved access and reduced costs, challenges persisted for clients lacking digital literacy or access to devices, prompting programs to innovate with loaner programs, Wi-Fi hotspots, and multilingual outreach via platforms like WhatsApp.