Typically, unemployment rates are a sign of the health of an economy. In the United States, as of April 2025, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported an unemployment rate of just 4.2%. Unfortunately, that number doesn’t account for those who are employed part-time (and unable to find…

HopeWorks is blessed with caring staff who are passionate about our students and helping them succeed. One of those employees is Hilarie Pulley, a Personal and Career Development instructor at SCDC and an Employment Essentials instructor at HopeWorks’ Summer Avenue location. Hilarie’s love for others is apparent through…

According to the Tennessee Department of Education, nearly 90% of all high school students graduated on time in the 2021-2022 school year. While that number is quite large, that still leaves a decent number of students without a high school diploma. This, however, does not mean there aren’t…

Budgeting with a salary is easy because you know the exact amount of money you’ll be receiving each pay period. Hourly jobs are more difficult to budget for because your paycheck can be different every time you get it — depending on how many hours you work in…

Personal and Career Development has been HopeWorks’ key program since we opened more than 35 years ago. PCD is still around, but there are some exciting changes happening on Summer Avenue when it comes to our workforce programming. If you haven’t already joined us for a PCD class,…

If you were born and raised as an American citizen, there are certain aspects of life that are seen as common knowledge. However, some people in our city do not have the same cultural knowledge that comes with having spent a large part of their lives in the…

Our mission is simple – we want to give Memphians who need a second chance a Christ-centered space to learn and grow through education, counseling and career development programs. The individuals we help are impressive. With the new year quickly approaching, we think everyone should be making resolutions…

If you want to be a good job candidate, you have to fit the description. Sure, it’s important to be able to do all of the technical components of a job, but you also have to possess the soft skills to meet your future employer’s needs. What are…

In the adult world, there aren’t nearly as many tests to take as there were when you were in school. So, if you haven’t finished high school, the thought of getting into test-taking shape to earn your high school equivalency diploma can seem overwhelming. When you know what…

Hiring markets ebb and flow, with some markets favoring candidates and others favoring employees. Right now, there are more open jobs than there are people to fill them, meaning people applying for work could have multiple job offers to choose from. No matter what the market looks like…