Lyft expanding Jobs Access Program in N.J. — providing rides to job opportunities

Lyft is expanding its Jobs Access Program, which provides individuals with the transportation they need to get to a job opportunity.

In New Jersey, Lyft is working with Goodwill and the United Way — also the ride-sharing company’s national partners on the initiative — to distribute ride credits to individuals in their communities to help them access rides. Lyft will also work with local organizations focused on providing access to job-related opportunities in underserved communities, it said.

New Jersey is one of 20 areas nationwide where Lyft offers the program as part of its LyftUp initiative to expand transportation access for those who need it most. The Jobs Access program was started in 2019, and Lyft provided more than 20,000 rides in its first year.

“We know that, for the unemployed and underemployed, reliable transportation to a job interview or the first few weeks of work can mean the difference between successful, long-term employment and lost opportunities,” Lisa Boyd, Lyft’s director of social impact, said in a prepared statement. “The current unemployment crisis has stressed the need to support our communities, now more than ever.

“We are proud to expand our Jobs Access Program in New Jersey and to continue working with partners such as Goodwill and United Way in aiding the recovery of the tens of millions of job seekers during this incredibly challenging economic time.”

Lyft has also created a digital Jobs Access Hub, which will make it easier for those needing rides to get them, and allows individuals to donate a ride in support.