Workforce Solutions
Background
The pandemic severely disrupted the labor market, with many people being furloughed, taking pay cuts and/or working remotely from home. This has raised serious concerns about the “future of work” as the pandemic has accelerated the pace of automation, adoption of AI technologies to reduce costs and make work processes more efficient. The objective of this challenge is to identify solutions that connect employment demand with supply by ensuring the requisite training, certification, and freelance resources to weather short term challenges and plan for long-term needs
Problems
Optimizing the labor market by connecting workers with relevant opportunities
Opt-in mechanism that preserves customer trust, data and privacy
Workforce solutions for seasonal workers in rural areas
Emerging Risks
Faster adoption of automation and AI increasingly risks putting people out of work
Trickle-down effects of the pandemic on the job market
Communities Affected
Venues are having difficulty maintaining their service standards due to labor shortages
Individuals who have lost their jobs due to the pandemic and are ready to work but who need training
According to the UN, the majority of the tourism workforce worldwide is female—54 per cent of people employed in tourism are women compared to 39 per cent in the broader economy.
Additionally, underrepresented minorities play a critical role in the workforce at tourist destinations.
Potential Impact
Increase in unemployment due to job losses and slow workforce recovery
About
The COVID-19 pandemic severely affected the Pacific Northwest’s Tourism, Performing Arts, Travel and Hospitality (TPATH) sectors. Startups, industry experts and government leaders can each play a pivotal role in the journey to recovery and resilience.
Process
We reached out to various organizations in the TPATH sector to understand their technology needs to facilitate quick recovery. Their needs are illustrated as a set of challenges that startups and industry experts can drive solutions for, accelerated by Congregate.
Community
Our partner network is a diverse group of public and private organizations with a range of expertise in the TPATH sector. Explore the benefits of partnering with us and contributing to the recovery of the region.