Increasing Employment and Workforce Development

Unemployment can be a barrier to healthcare access. As one of the largest employers in the state, UPMC continues to think creatively about how to create workforce development and training initiatives that helped individuals find stable careers that pay family-sustaining wages. This initiative, Pathways to Work, has resulted in several collaborations and programs to build and expand workforce services.

UPMC's Pathways to Work program aims to connect our UPMC for You members—and community members who are unemployed or have barriers to work—to job training programs and employment opportunities. Listen to how this program has been life changing. Learn more at the Pathways to Work member website.

Of note:

  • On average, UPMC hires about 200 Medicaid beneficiaries monthly.
  • Pathways to Work is actively working with over 50 individuals at any given time, and over 1,100 job seekers received direct support.
  • Pathways for Veterans engaged 500 veterans since September 2022 and hosted a job fair in November 2022 and 2023.

You don't have to be a health plan member to participate. Email pathwaystowork@upmc.edu to learn about the resources that are available to all community members.

Learn more about our employment efforts

Season 1, Episode 3: Better Jobs, Better Health

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UPMC Health Plan job readiness partnership leads unemployed Pennsylvanians back to work

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UPMC Health Plan Expands Job Training, Education, and Opportunities

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Workforce Development panel discusses changing employment landscape

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One Option For Reviving A Shrinking Middle Class: Value Skills, Not Just Education

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UPMC Health Plan Earns Prestigious Governor's Achievement Award

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Freedom House Foundations

Founded in 1967, Pittsburgh’s Freedom House initiative was one of the country’s first emergency ambulance services. The spirit of the program was revived in late 2020 by UPMC and UPMC Health Plan, in part by a grant through the UPMC Center for High Value Health Care from Partner 4 Work.
The Freedom House Foundations program is designed to recruit, train and employ first responders from economically disadvantaged communities. Participants receive training and support focusing on emergency medical services as well as non-emergency psychosocial needs such as poorly managed chronic medical and behavioral health conditions or social needs. Comprehensive guidance is also available to trainees to address their own educational and employment barriers. Upon graduation, trainees are connected to resources to assist with their job seeking process. This programming is supported by funding from Partners4Work and the Pennsylvania Department of Health and Human Services.
"Freedom House Foundations received awards and recognition from both the Commonwealth and the Institute for Medicaid Innovation for its novel approach to workforce development. The program also recently received a more than $1M appropriation for expansion statewide to continue offering the program throughout Allegheny County and to begin scaling the program into additional counties in 2023. Recent program expansion includes new partnerships in Erie and Harrisburg.

Learn more about Freedom House Foundations programming

UPMC and UPMC Health Plan Launch “Freedom House 2.0” to Recruit, Train and Employ First Responders from Economically Disadvantaged Communities Impacted by COVID

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UPMC Freedom House 2.0 Success Story - Tiffany

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UPMC Health Plan's Freedom House 2.0 program graduates 9 in Hill District ceremony

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From low pay to workplace culture, obstacles litter the path to diversity in EMS

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UPMC launches EMS training program for low-income individuals

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Freedom House 2.0 trains participants for emergency medical careers

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Partner4Work

Partner4Work is the Workforce Investment Board (WIB) in Allegheny County that connects employer, job seekers, and agencies to develop a thriving workforce in Allegheny County. UPMC Center for Social Impact collaborates with Partner4Work to develop workforce training initiatives, job development programs, and develop a talent pipeline in areas critical to UPMC’s mission. Examples include Freedom House 2.0 and various apprenticeship programs.

Learn more about Partner4Work

Partner4Work and UPMC Health Plan join forces to forge career pathways for new Medicaid enrollees

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UPMC Health Plan Launches Program Targeting Underserved Communities to Train and Hire Health IT-Focused Customer Service "Concierges"

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Apprenticeship initiative helps connect people to health care jobs

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UPMC Freedom House 2.0 Success Story - Tiffany

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