Report/Research
Rework America Alliance Small and Medium-Sized Business Engagement
Lessons Learned and Vision for the Future
March 11, 2025
At a glance
This report details how the Rework America Alliance furthers skills-based practice adoption amongst small and medium-sized businesses. Key lessons learned, future plans, and recommendations are also shared.
Executive Summary
This report explores the Rework America Alliance’s (RAA) approach to influencing small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) to adopt skills-based practices. It highlights the critical role of SMBs in the U.S. employment landscape and the potential for skills-based practices to boost the economy and create equal access to quality job opportunities.
The report also summarizes key lessons from the RAA’s experiences and offers the following recommendations for those seeking to replicate its work:
- Prioritize outreach and engagement with SMBs: Actively reach out to SMBs to educate them about the benefits of skills-based hiring and provide resources and support to implement these practices.
- Build partnerships with industry associations and chambers of commerce: Collaborate with these organizations to amplify the message of skills-based hiring and provide tailored resources and support to their member businesses.
- Develop clear and compelling narratives: Craft stories that highlight the business case for skills-based hiring and the positive impact it can have on the bottom line.
- Offer practical tools and resources: Provide SMBs with easy-to-use tools and resources to help them identify and assess skills, develop skills-based job descriptions, and implement effective training and development programs.
- Support regional and local initiatives: Work with regional and local partners to develop and implement targeted strategies to promote skills-based hiring in specific industries and communities.