Key Highlights
Challenges
Employers in Philadelphia reported growing challenges in finding workers with the digital skills needed for today’s economy while also navigating the high costs of employee turnover.
At the same time, the workers most vulnerable to job displacement due to automation — particularly low-wage earners, part-time employees, and many workers of color — often have the fewest opportunities to access meaningful upskilling and career advancement. Many have a limited understanding of the workforce training ecosystem.
Opportunities
Philadelphia Works, the city’s workforce development agency, launched its first Pay for Success project in 2019 with Comcast as the employment partner and additional collaboration with the Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia and Social Finance. Comcast agreed to reimburse Philadelphia Works for the training costs of a pilot cohort through its HR department based on hiring and retention outcomes, linking public workforce investments to employment outcomes in the private sector.
The model created a feedback loop in which training programs can be adjusted based on hiring needs and retention. Participants employed by Comcast earned a family-sustaining wage with the option to earn more through commissions.
Building on the lessons learned from the pilot, The Skills Initiative, a community-based workforce training nonprofit, launched its own PFS programs tying a service fee for employers to employee retention benchmarks. This model ensures that training programs are tailored to the employer’s specific operational, cultural, and strategic needs, and that The Skills Initiative builds a sustainable funding stream that is not dependent entirely on philanthropic and public dollars.
Findings and Next Steps
- This funding model can be adapted across various industries, but larger employers are typically better positioned to absorb the up-front investment. Because employers are contributing their own funds, the decision-making process tends to be slower, often taking at least a year to launch a new program.
- Training by workforce development partner organizations is tailored to meet each employer’s specific needs, ensuring new hires arrive with the skills, knowledge, and confidence to succeed from day one. This reduces ramp-up time, boosts productivity, and lowers replacement costs through a focus on long-term retention.
- Beyond filling roles, the model represents a strategic investment in growth, innovation, and workforce sustainability while also enhancing brand reputation and community engagement.
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About the Authors
Cait Garozzo
Cait Garozzo is the Executive Director of The Skills Initiative. She has been a part of Philadelphia workforce development since 2010, serving as a case manager, curriculum developer, trainer, and program director for several organizations. Her experience and passion are in designing holistic and responsive programs aimed at preparing people for the modern workforce and building sustainable partnerships across organizations and individuals. Prior to joining University City District in 2017, Garozzo was the program director for Career Wardrobe, where she oversaw the organization’s regional expansion. Garozzo holds a BA from The College of New Jersey and a graduate certificate in Social Impact Strategy from The University of Pennsylvania. She is currently pursuing a Master’s degree in Organizational Dynamics from the University of Pennsylvania.
Ashley Putnam
Ashley Putnam is the director of the Economic Growth & Mobility Project (EGMP), a strategic initiative of the Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia dedicated to promoting equal access to economic opportunity. EGMP is a multilevel effort to bring about entrepreneurial solutions to achieve inclusive economic growth and create pathways out of poverty in communities across the Third District and the nation. Before joining the Bank, Putnam served as the economic development adviser for the Mayor’s Office of Workforce Development in New York City, where she facilitated the coordination between economic and workforce development. In previous roles, Putnam founded and directed a fellowship program connecting young people to policy research and service on issues of urban poverty. She also served at the Department of Housing and Urban Development, America Works of New York, and the Women’s City Club of New York. Putnam has a MPA from New York University’s Robert F. Wagner School of Public Service and a BA from Barnard College.
Tyrone Hampton, Jr.
Tyrone Hampton, Jr. is the Director of Workforce Partnerships at Philadelphia Works, Inc., the City’s local workforce board. He is a passionate servant leader with over 20 years of workforce development experience. He is responsible for leading regional strategy and oversees the planning, implementation, and management of grants, contracts, and special initiatives, providing innovative and comprehensive employment and training resources to the Philadelphia workforce ecosystem. Hampton also leads the Good Jobs Challenge in the Southeastern PA region, funded by the Economic Development Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce, focused on sectoral partnerships in Healthcare & Life Sciences, Energy, and Infrastructure. Hampton has been recognized for many achievements throughout his career and was recently included in LEADERSHIP Philadelphia’s 2025 cohort, the region’s leadership development program, and recognized by City & State PA as a Black trailblazer. Hampton’s career is dedicated to serving the community and increasing access to opportunities. He holds an associate’s degree from the Fashion Institute of Technology.