A social enterprise makes money, but it makes a lot more than that for the people involved

To help address the shortage of personal protective equipment in hospitals, companies and individuals in the fashion industry are turning from clothing production to face mask production. This approach, which is being implemented across the U.S. and Europe, not only helps the medical industry, but also helps to keep those in the fashion industry employed during the pandemic.

The West Philadelphia Skills Initiative is working to structure an inclusive economy by bridging socioeconomic gaps between classes; by connecting large employers with the pool of people currently seeking work, this community-empowered group is working to create "an actionable strategy for ... pathways into the middle class"

People with autism struggle to gain employment. EY and other private companies have started programs to employ autistic individuals, harnessing their skills, tailoring the onboarding process to suit their needs, and having coaches help them with social interactions.

Toyota is building a battery plant in the small town of Liberty, North Carolina, and ushering in an economic revival. Along with the thousands of jobs it is expected to bring to the area, the company is working with community colleges and paying students to complete programs in which they learn the necessary skills to work at the plant.

The Philadelphia-based company Solar States offers a paid training opportunity for city residents to learn to install solar panels and earn the necessary credentials to help them start careers in the industry. The company’s newest program, Find Your Ladder, is a training opportunity for people who have been through the criminal justice system.

A social enterprise in Armenia employs single mothers of children with disabilities so they can work from home and receive a sustainable income. The company, Ardook Household Assistant, offers washing, drying, and ironing services for clothes and linens.

Employment intermediaries from VšĮ SOPA act as workforce development counselors and recruiters for both employers and people with disabilities. By preparing people for jobs that fit their abilities, and then aiding in a job search, the intermediaries are able to place about half of their 100-plus clients in appropriate jobs. Common in Western Europe, where government funding enables such services, the service in Lithuania relies on private funding, which can be less stable. Jobs for people with disabilities provide self-confidence and independence.

Albergo Etico prepares people with disabilities for work in the hotel industry, using training based on the Montessori method. The "download" method helps people learn job skills at their own pace, translating lessons for people with various cognitive abilities. Training begins with their families, doing household chores in their own home. Trainees now work in eight Italian cities, plus three other countries. The investment pays off both economically and socially, as trainees gain autonomy and self-sufficiency.

Firebrand Artisan Breads hires people with high barriers to employment, such as people experiencing homelessness or who were formerly incarcerated. The higher-than-minimum-wage starting salary, paid time off, and insurance benefits provide sustainable and secure employment to people whose life circumstances make it harder to get a job. In order to raise capital while maintaining their employment model, the owner worked with lawyers to become a perpetual purpose trust, an alternative ownership model that allows the company to sell shares to private investors while ensuring their principles remain in place.

Many Chicago distilleries are utilizing their abundance of high-proof alcohol to create hand sanitizer to fill a gap in the market due to the coronavirus pandemic. While a portion of the product is being donated to first responders and frontline workers, this new business endeavor is also helping distillery owners keep their employees on payroll and their businesses open.