Our study clearly shows that employers would rather not hire a lot of workers from the inner city. They feel people from the inner city are not job-ready, that the kids have been poorly educated, that they can't read, they can't write, they can't speak.
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- Employers often avoid hiring workers from inner cities due to perceived lack of job readiness and poor education.
- In plain terms
- Companies hesitate to hire inner-city workers because they think these workers lack basic skills.
- What can you take from it?
- Employer bias and skill gaps limit job opportunities for inner-city residents.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- How do employers assess job readiness?
- What barriers exist for inner-city job seekers?
Another view
The quote generalizes employer attitudes without citing specific data on hiring practices.
More from William Julius Wilson
One of the reasons I came to Harvard, after being in Chicago for so many years, is the critical mass of public intellectuals at Harvard.
Permalink to quote #30 Over the years, black leaders have been slow to recognize the need for a very, very progressive agenda.
Permalink to quote #32 No other major Western democracy has such a weak family support program.
Permalink to quote #29
Related quotes
A lot of joblessness in the black community doesn't seem to be reachable through fiscal and monetary policies. People have not been drawn into the labor market…
William Julius WilsonWilliam Julius Wilson quote #1 This 21st century economy holds great promise for our people. But unless we give all Americans the skills they need to succeed, countries like India and China …
Harry ReidHarry Reid quote #21 We conclude that, in the field of public education, the doctrine of 'separate but equal' has no place. Separate educational facilities are inherently unequal.
Earl WarrenEarl Warren quote #1