SACRAMENTO, CA - Labor continues to be a hot topic of conversation across our industry, as companies from multiple sectors seek dependable workers. Sitting down with representatives from PRIDE Industries, a pioneer in providing competitive business services while creating employment for people with disabilities, we spoke about how this population is a major talent pool waiting to be tapped.

“We find that a lot of frontline jobs are hard to fill and hard to retain. The Bureau of Labor Statistics says that 10 percent of people age 16–64 in the United States have a disability. Only 30 percent or so are employed,” remarked Darelyn Pazdel, Vice President of Workforce Inclusion. “The focus is on ability, not disability. As we’ve interviewed other employers, they ultimately realize that this person is just like any other employee. You find the right person for the job and you give them the training and support to help them be successful.”

Kat Maudru, Public Relations Director for the company, echoes Darelyn’s comments.

“At a time when employees are hard to find and keep, this is a virtually untapped resource,” she said. “Our department busts the myths surrounding employing people with disabilities in order to highlight the real case studies that break down those biases.”

Case in point, PRIDE Industries works closely with Raley’s, a supporter of the company’s mission. Angela “Angie” Rao, who has a developmental disability, has worked for Raley's as a Courtesy Clerk for 32 years.

“I call her my morning light,” says Danielle Bergmann, Raley's Store Team Leader. "She’s one of the top five courtesy clerks I’ve ever had. She’s on time, eager to work, has a smile for everyone, and customers love her. Many of them ask where she is on her days off—a testament to the impact Angie makes on our store each and every day. When I said she is a light, I meant it. Angie excels at customer service, and that’s hard to teach. She is a role model for new courtesy clerks, leading by example.”

A crucial point that Darelyn made to me is that there is a mismatch in our workforce right now between available talent and opportunities, and PRIDE Industries helps to bridge that gap.

In order to make sure their employees succeed, PRIDE Industries provides a host of resources such as job coaches to teach professional skills. The job coach also acts as an intermediary for the employee and supervisor in case additional help is needed.

“If you’re looking for an almost limitless pipeline of high-potential, high-talent employees, look here,” Darelyn emphasized. “It’s a win-win.”

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PRIDE Industries