News  MRC 2021 Hiring Event

In Partnership with OFCCP, MRC Hosts 9^th Annual Hiring Event

On Wednesday, May 19 the Massachusetts Rehabilitation Commission (MRC) in partnership with the U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP) hosted the 9^th Annual Hiring Event. The Annual Hiring Event is the agency’s premier event that provides job seekers with disabilities the opportunity to interview competitively for positions across the Commonwealth. Employers in attendance are the state’s primary conduit to ensuring continued full access to meaningful employment for the disability community. 

This year the event had 112 consumers to interview with 56 employers. Prior to the event kick-off, 16 individuals had already received job offers, including one job seeker who accepted an offer with a competitive salary at State Street Corporation as a Private Equity Fund Manager/Officer.

“MRC’s mission is about people thriving in the community–and that means meaningful employment,” said MRC Commissioner Toni Wolf. “COVID has impacted everyone across the globe, but when it comes to employment across the Commonwealth, jobseekers with disabilities are among the groups that have been hit the hardest and have been disproportionally impacted by the pandemic. There is now an opportunity for every employer to look at themselves, who they are hiring, and say to themselves ‘Am I looking through things with a different lens? What are we missing?’ Because not having a workforce with people with disabilities you are missing out on incredible candidates and employees.”

The morning ceremony included remarks from Assistant Commissioner Joan Phillips, Rhonda Aubin-Smith, District Director, Boston Office Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP), Jennifer C. Sheehy, Deputy Assistant Secretary, Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP), Wolf, and Executive Office of Health and Human Services Secretary Mary Lou Sudders. The program also included video remarks from employer partners as well as MRC consumers and event participants.

In her video remarks, Sudders highlighted the Commonwealth’s dedication to empowering employment for individuals with disabilities. “Our commitment to ensuring continued access to employment has not waivered during this difficult time, and we are grateful to Commissioner Wolf and our MRC team for leading this charge to bring together individuals with disabilities with top tier employers,” said Sudders.  “This administration is committed to improving employment opportunities and economic security for individuals with disabilities. This is why, with the support of the legislature, the administration created new Disability Employment Tax Credit to support businesses like those here today, that hire individuals with disabilities. This is truly a win-win for individuals with disabilities who are eager to work and for businesses who have jobs waiting to be filled.”

To date, the Annual Hiring Event has provided more than 1,300 individuals with disabilities in Massachusetts a dedicated space to engage in interviews with competitive employers, resulting in over 543 individuals with disabilities securing jobs since its inception. The event has also led to $11.5 million of secured wages for people with disabilities in the Commonwealth since its inception, creating a variety of positions and occupations in health care, to management roles and beyond.

Wolf added, “MRC’s services matter now, more than ever, to ensure individuals with disabilities are included in rebuilding the economy post pandemic. We, along with our employer partners across the state need to continue to push the boundaries in employment.”