Delaware Equitable Hiring Initiative

Helping businesses tap into Wilmington’s “hidden workforce”

Wilmington is home to growing population of “hidden workers.”

A growing number of job-seekers in Wilmington are effectively “hidden” from local employers. While eager to get a job and establish financial resilience, these candidates often get screened out early in the application process due to outdated systems or a lack of traditional qualifications. Wilmington’s “hidden workers” are a diverse group, spanning caregivers, veterans, immigrants, justice-impacted populations, and more.

As Delaware grapples with labor shortages statewide, employers can no longer afford to overlook Wilmington’s “hidden workers.” It’s time for Delaware businesses tap into this vast, skilled talent pool to drive productivity and innovation.

Recruiting “hidden workers” makes Delaware businesses stronger.

The Delaware Equitable Hiring Initiative is a strategic pilot project designed to help Delaware employers tap into Wilmington’s hidden workforce.

Designed by the Responsible Business Initiative for Justice (RBIJ), the project seeks to equip participating employers with enhanced talent acquisition solutions that more effectively include candidates from diverse experiences and overlooked communities. By joining the Initiative, Delaware businesses will benefit from individualized technical assistance, connections to industry experts, monthly workshops, a community of practice, and peer-to-peer learning opportunities.

About the Initiative

Employer Profile

  • Based in Delaware (along public transporation route)

  • Hiring for entry-level positions with long-term career opportunities

  • Paying a sustainable livable wage ($18+/hour with benefits)

  • Providing opportunities for employee mobility and career development

  • Committing to facilitated technical assistance over the course of 10 months

Employers Receive

  • Enhanced talent acquisition solutions

  • Individualized technical assistance

  • Connections to industry experts and workforce supports

  • Monthly workshops and peer-to-peer learning opportunities

Projected Impacts

  • 50 Wilmingtonians connected to employment

  • 10 Delaware employers equipped to find “hidden workers” through enhanced talent management systems

  • Improved retention, productivity, and innovation for participating businesses

  • A faster pipeline to job growth that will stimulate Delaware’s whole economy

Get Involved Today

For more information on the Delaware Equitable Hiring Initiative, fill out the form below or contact Caz Walcott, RBIJ’s Director of Inclusive Hiring at: caz@rbij.org