Gesher Human Services Offers Free Women to Work Program as New Data Shows Women Severely Impacted by the Labor Force Decline this Summer September 15, 2026, Southfield, MI!

Photo courtesy of Gesher Human Services | Participant with Computer Training Services—Supervisor David Rotter

Four-week program begins on Sept. 15 in Southfield with an added focus on AI tools to assist women in obtaining employment.

 Gesher Human Services, one of the largest human service agencies in metro Detroit, will offer its life-changing Women to Work program starting on Tues. Sept. 15 from 10 a.m. to noon. The four-week program, which will meet on Tuesdays and Thursdays in person at Gesher’s headquarters in Southfield (29699 Southfield Road), is offered free to metro Detroit women who have been out of the workforce and need immediate employment. It is being offered as new data analysis  from the Nationals Women’s Law Center found that women accounted for 100% of the labor force decline in July when the economy lost 23,000 jobs: women accounted for all of those losses at 32,000 jobs, while men gained 9000 jobs. The reports said that women make up just over half of the workforce. The organization analyzed monthly data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics and found that the number of women who have left the workforce since January is 845,00, compared with 406,000 fewer men in the workforce.

“While the figures are alarming, we know that our program can help women re-enter the workforce and in this session we are really leaning into new AI tools to provide women with even better interview skills guidance and resume help,” said Career Counselor and Women to Work Co-Ordinator Phyllis Scripsick. “It really is about guiding women, who may have been unemployed for a while, or perhaps haven’t applied for a job for many years, into the future. Our program is free and empowering which is a winning combination.”

Women to Work will include:

• In depth vocational assessment
• Employment-related group counseling and emotional support
• Networking strategies
• Resume writing and interview coaching
• Financial education
• Stress management and confidence building

“We will also be doing a ‘strong interest inventory’ to help participants figure out potential career choices appropriate for their natural gifts and which would also be fulfilling to them,” added Scripsick.

Guest speakers will also be part of the program, talking on topics such as resilience, reinvention and LinkedIn. Women who would like to improve their computer literacy skills are also able to take part in free computer training which will begin in the second week of the Women to Work program.

For more information go to geshermi.org/events; to register contact Phyllis Scripsick at 248.233.4278 or email pscripsick@geshermi.org.

About Gesher Human Services

Gesher Human Services is a non-profit organization providing a bridge to hope and opportunity for people at work, at home, and in the community. It is dedicated to helping people across metro Detroit lead more stable and fulfilling lives through workforce development, career mobility, behavioral health, inclusion programming, and residential services that serve all metro Detroiters while meeting the needs of the Jewish community. The organization works with job seekers, individuals with disabilities, older adults, and the broader community to provide the skills, support, and equitable opportunities necessary for people to succeed. Gesher draws on over 110 years of combined experience to facilitate equitable employment opportunities and enhance mental health outcomes for Metro Detroiters. With a network of almost 500 employees and volunteers across more than 25 locations in southeast Michigan, Gesher delivers a continuum of services and support that directly impacts the lives of nearly 34,000 individuals and families annually. More information at www.geshermi.org.