Corporate Initiatives
In 2022, Business Roundtable launched a new Corporate Initiatives Group to bring together Business Roundtable member companies to address pressing workforce challenges. Business Roundtable’s Corporate Initiatives work involves over 150 companies representing millions of employees nationwide. These companies are working together at scale to ensure that employees have the skills they need to succeed in a rapidly changing economy, expand economic opportunity to more Americans and maintain America’s competitive edge.
Cybersecurity Workforce Initiative
The Cybersecurity Workforce Initiative helps Business Roundtable CEOs strengthen cybersecurity talent pathways, with a particular focus on entry-level roles. The Cybersecurity Workforce Initiative works with companies to open job opportunities in cybersecurity to workers from different backgrounds including those without a four-year degree, the incumbent workforce and U.S. military veterans and spouses.
Mental Health Initiative
The Mental Health Initiative (MHI) offers member companies broad resources, expert and peer insights, and CEO engagement opportunities as they expand their workplace mental health programs and address common challenges, including low rates of employee uptake and awareness of existing benefits; persistent stigma that prevents workers from seeking treatment; uncertainty about how managers can support struggling colleagues; and making the business case for additional investments in mental health offerings.
Multiple Pathways Initiative
Through the Multiple Pathways Initiative (MPI), Business Roundtable member companies participate in a multi-year targeted effort to ensure that there are pathways to hiring and promotion for Americans without college degrees. The emphasis on hiring and promoting based on skills, rather than just degrees, helps companies to expand the number of qualified applicants and extends economic opportunity more broadly, including to underrepresented groups.
Second Chance Business Coalition
Second Chance Business Coalition (SCBC) companies exchange best practices and draw on expert perspectives for expanding their hiring and advancement practices for Americans with criminal records who have served their time and are ready to reenter the workforce. The business community has a critical role to play in providing second chance employment opportunities, which can help to tap into an extensive and diverse talent pool that is too often overlooked, while addressing the broader societal need for inclusive economic participation.
Skilled Trades for America Initiative
The Business Roundtable Skilled Trades for America Initiative (STAI) was launched in response to growing labor shortages affecting the strength and competitiveness of the American
industrial base. STAI expands and strengthens talent pipelines for skilled workers by convening
member companies to share best practices in workforce development; developing pilot projects and
partnerships to address local workforce needs; and raising awareness of skilled trades careers and
their importance to the U.S. economy.
Thurgood Marshall College Fund
Business Roundtable partners with the Thurgood Marshall College Fund to help ensure historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs) prepare students for current and emerging workforce needs.
Work-Based Learning Accelerator
The Work-Based Learning Accelerator helps companies develop and scale innovative work-based learning opportunities for workers and future employees.
Workforce Partnership Initiative
Through the Workforce Partnership Initiative (WPI), CEOs work with local colleges and universities in nine U.S. regions to fill high-demand jobs in STEM-related fields, such as cybersecurity and data analytics, and in skilled trade positions, including technicians, machinists and welders.
