FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: November 20, 2025
WASHINGTON, D.C. – As companies struggle with the realities of today’s economic landscape and the need to ensure a workforce ready for the demands of the future, Andrea Wood, the new President and CEO of the Association of Corporate Citizenship Professionals (ACCP) – the nation’s leading advocate for corporate social impact professionals and purpose-driven companies – has penned a guest commentary in Inc., arguing that there is a current workforce crisis and suggests that corporate social responsibility (CSR) efforts may be the most effective solution for motivating today’s workers while developing the workforce of the future.
In Ms. Wood’s piece in Inc. entitled, “Here’s How Corporate Social Responsibility Can Create a Great Workplace”, she argues that successful CSR programs must be closely aligned with core business strategies. She specifically highlights efforts focused on developing the future workforce and strengthening local communities while also citing supporting data from the Association’s own 2025 CSR Insights Survey, which was conducted earlier this year.
“Successful corporate social responsibility (CSR) programs are aligned with business strategies, especially efforts to develop tomorrow’s workforce and strengthen communities. According to the latest CSR Insights Survey, conducted by the Association of Corporate Citizenship Professionals (ACCP) and Your Cause from Blackbaud, 51 percent of corporate social impact professionals report increased demand for linking their programs to business value. In the same survey, respondents noted the top issue areas for social impact investments are job training/workforce development, K-12 education, and food insecurity (each scoring at 43 percent of respondents ranking as a top priority issue area for their company), followed by community revitalization (up 2 points to 36 percent) and STEM education (up 3 points to 35 percent).”
Click here to read the entire guest piece in Inc.
She continues by asking and answering the question: what’s behind this concentration on education and workforce issues?
“Companies are recognizing that the pipeline of future talent is at risk without their own efforts. Success depends on hooking every minnow in the pool and preparing them for a job market that is continuing to be radically reshaped by disruptive technologies. The dwindling supply of future workers and the incredibly fluid work environment reflects several widespread trends:
“First, the population is aging. As people live longer, the overall demographic is shifting towards older age groups, with younger generations making up a smaller portion of the population. And a new Baby Boom isn’t on the horizon to balance this trend. National fertility rates are at an all-time low, far below the level needed to maintain a stable population. Many young people, facing financial insecurity and a pessimistic outlook on the future, are less inclined to have children.
“Second, even if elected officials manage to bring a significant number of manufacturing jobs back to the United States — which is by no means certain — young people are neither interested in nor prepared for these positions. Despite a broader interest in trade jobs, manufacturing remains an exception. Recent news articles have noted that surveys show Gen-Z respondents have little desire for industrial roles, citing concerns over poor pay and safety.
“Third, companies are rapidly turning to machine-learning-powered applications to automate many types of work, including a large swathe of entry-level jobs. Entry-level candidates will need to possess higher-order skills that machine-learning applications cannot handle. Job training and upskilling programs need to prepare job candidates for this future.
“In a world where disruptive technologies are redefining the workplace at lightning speed, investing in education and workforce development is no longer optional—it’s a business imperative. Companies that fail to prepare their people for this new reality risk being left behind.”
To Speak with ACCP Experts, please contact Dana Frazeur at dana@accp.org
In her first commentary piece earlier this year in Fortune entitled, “Companies aren’t giving up on doing good—they are becoming more strategic about it,” Ms. Wood argues that socially responsible efforts not only benefit society but also strengthen a company’s bottom line, while being steadfast encouraging corporations remain firmly committed to corporate responsibility despite recent headlines.
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The Association of Corporate Citizenship Professionals (ACCP) is the preeminent membership organization advancing the practice of corporate social impact. ACCP increases the effectiveness of CSR & ESG professionals and their companies by sharing knowledge, fostering solutions, and cultivating inclusive and supportive peer communities. ACCP amplifies the voices of its practitioner network to elevate strategies that work, provide innovative solutions, and expand impact.
CONTACT: Dana Frazeur | Director, Marketing & Communications
Association of Corporate Citizenship Professionals
dana@accp.org | 854-529-1511