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Mayor outlines "Text to Work" pilot to connect jobseekers by phone
Summary
Mayor Edwin Lee described a pilot mobile and phone‑based job‑matching service, "Text to Work," designed to connect San Francisco jobseekers — including those without internet access — to job postings and applications via text and phone. The pilot will be limited initially and evaluated before wider rollout.
During the Board's question period, Mayor Edwin Lee described "Text to Work," a mobile phone–based application developed with Code for America to connect jobseekers to openings by text message and by phone.
Supervisor Malia Cohen asked how the app fits into the city's workforce development strategy and how outreach will ensure residents can use the tool. The mayor said Text to Work is intended to reach residents who lack internet access or have limited literacy, vision, or a fixed address, and is being piloted through the Office of Economic and Workforce Development (OEWD) using a Department of Labor Workforce Innovation Fund grant.
Lee said the pilot will initially focus on CityBuild participants so OEWD can assess effectiveness before expanding the service. "This application allows those looking for work to review job postings and apply for work 24 hours a day without a connection to the Internet," the mayor said, noting the tool's potential to help immigrants, victims of domestic violence, and others with limited access. If the pilot proves effective, officials said they intend to expand access over the summer.
The mayor placed Text to Work within a broader workforce strategy that includes sector academies and other city programs such as Summer Jobs Plus and CityBuild, and highlighted San Francisco's job growth since 2011 as context for continuing to connect residents to employment opportunities.
