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TITLE: "There's No Place Like Home": Suburban Job Search of Urban Workers in Oakland, California AUTHOR: Susan Turner Meiklejohn PAGES: 250 DATE: June 2003 ABSTRACT: This paper qualitatively assesses barriers to employment perceived by 65 individuals participating in youth training and welfare-to-work programs and by 13 staff members and trainers in Oakland, California. The individuals who were seeking employment often faced very subtle but substantial deterrents to employment in the form of poor self-esteem and a stated fear of either seeking work or of working in largely white areas. These obstacles, when considered in light of more easily "observed" barriers that most of the respondents faced (including poverty, poor skills, child care and transportation problems, prior drug use or incarceration, and/or physical and mental illness) emphasize that what for many would seem like a simple action—leaving familiar neighborhoods to search for work—is actually a very daunting task. The paper also provides a case study of one local organization that was especially successful in addressing client fears about searching for employment. PPIC working papers present work in progress and may not be quoted or cited without permission of the author. Comments or suggestions, however, are welcome. |