OUR APPROACH
Grantmaking and Partnerships
Led by a cross-sector Leadership Board that is ideologically diverse and representative of often-siloed groups, WorkRise invests in research on policies, programs, and practices that have the potential to accelerate economic security and mobility for low-wage workers. We fund analyses and the creation of data that shed light on labor market barriers, trends, and opportunities. And we engage in strategic partnerships that help advance evidence-based solutions in support of our mission. Learn more about our most recent request for proposals and how you can collaborate with WorkRise.
Working Knowledge
The Latest
Employer practices
July 01, 2021
People First, Employees Second: Workers Reflect on What Good Jobs Mean to Them
Workers share their perspectives and experiences at a joint Urban Institute and WorkRise event that explored job quality and the roles different stakeholders play in creating higher-quality jobs for all workers.
Wages and employer-provided benefits
June 17, 2021
Employer-Sponsored Small Dollar Loans Improve Workers’ Access to Safe and Affordable Credit
Financial shocks harm both workers and their employers. They undermine a workers' employment and prospects for economic mobility and raise costs for employers.
Demographic disparities
May 24, 2021
Closing Digital Skill Gaps Created by Structural Inequities Could Enhance Young Workers’ Economic Resilience
Today’s labor market increasingly requires digital skills to search, apply for, and succeed in higher-wage jobs that are also associated with high…
Financial stability
May 04, 2021
A Call to Reimagine Work and Benefits to Ensure All Workers Attain Financial Security
WorkRise and the Aspen Institute Financial Security Program convened experts to share insights on creating equitable opportunities for low- and middle-wage workers to achieve financial security.
Research
Wages and employer-provided benefits
October 07, 2020
The Challenge of Slow Wage Growth
Because of sluggish wage growth, middle- and low-wage workers in the United States are today doing little better in real terms than similarly situated workers 40 years ago, exacerbating economic burdens experienced by workers during the current COVID-19 crisis. This brief examines the evidence on wage growth for the typical worker over several decades and concludes that efforts to rebuild the U.S. labor market must include policies to accelerate wage growth.
Demographic disparities
September 28, 2020
Racial Inequality in the Labor Market and Employment Opportunities
This brief explores the persistent inequities and disparities in outcomes experienced by people of color in the U.S. labor market through key data points, delves into root causes based on a review of the evidence, and identifies key gaps in our knowledge of why and how labor market inequality endures.
