Social Enterprise Strengths and Challenges (In Focus Brief)

Social enterprises (SEs) are businesses that intentionally hire individuals who face barriers to employment, while the enterprises remain financially viable. They seek to improve the earnings of the people they employ and help them use fewer government benefits and services, thereby easing taxpayer burden. By developing workers’ skills and providing them with resume-building experience, SEs prepare workers to move into permanent long-term employment. Furthermore, by providing employees with meaningful jobs and other supports, they attempt to improve their quality of life.