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.

The Latest

Economic context

June 01, 2023

Young workers’ economic mobility has improved since the start of the pandemic, but work remains to solidify these gains

Research shows that young workers have seen significant gains in their employment prospects since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic.
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Skills and training

June 09, 2023

Shifting Narratives and Policies to Support Black Workers’ Advancement: A Q&A with Bill Spriggs

Shifting focus away from skills gaps and worker shortages requires business, policy, and academic leaders to consider different solutions a shift away from individual failings to systemic inequities.
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Employer practices

Monday, June 26, 2023

Promoting Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in the Workplace: What’s Working?

In a tight job market, employers know that creating a diverse, equitable, and inclusive workplace is key to…

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Working Knowledge

The Latest

Employer practices July 18, 2023
Article

New Evidence to Advance the Moral and Business Case for DEI in the Workplace

Three takeaways from WorkRise’s recent virtual gathering of experts and advocates distill the latest evidence on the importance of DEI in the workplace and lift strategies for companies seeking to foster equity.

John Sankofa

July 18, 2023
Economic context June 01, 2023
Article

Young workers’ economic mobility has improved since the start of the pandemic, but work remains to solidify these gains

Research shows that young workers have seen significant gains in their employment prospects since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Joe Peck

June 01, 2023
Skills and training June 09, 2023
Changemaker Q&A

Shifting Narratives and Policies to Support Black Workers’ Advancement: A Q&A with Bill Spriggs

Shifting focus away from skills gaps and worker shortages requires business, policy, and academic leaders to consider different solutions a shift away from individual failings to systemic inequities.

Elizabeth Vivirito

June 09, 2023
Skills and training May 10, 2023
Article

Strategies for Success: Investing in Child Care and Employer-Led Workforce Development

The US needs greater investment in workforce development that aligns with what local employers needs, notes Cheryl Oldham, who leads workforce and education programs at the US Chamber of Commerce Foundation.

Elizabeth Vivirito

May 10, 2023

Research

Employer practices Report December 10, 2022

The National Study of Workplace Equity

The National Study of Workplace Equity surveyed just over 1,000 workplaces to find that equity is inconsistently implemented across employment systems. Researchers from the Boston College School of Social Work and Society of Human Resource Management (SHRM) find that equity is strongest in recruitment and hiring, compensation and benefits, and orientation and onboarding.

Samuel L. Bradley, Jr., Marcie Pitt-Catsouphes, Kathleen Christensen

Grantee Research

December 10, 2022
Employer practices Executive Summary December 10, 2022

Executive Summary: The National Study of Workplace Equity

In a new study, researchers from Work Equity, an initiative at the Boston College School of Social Work, and SHRM find that much progress needs to be made on equity across the employment lifecycle. Based on a survey of just over 1,000 workplaces, researchers find that equity is implemented inconsistently across 10 discrete employment systems.

Samuel L. Bradley, Jr., Marcie Pitt-Catsouphes, Kathleen Christensen

Grantee Research

December 10, 2022
Social determinants of work Brief September 29, 2022

The EITC and Racial Income Inequality

A new analysis from WorkRise grantees finds that the earned income tax credit reduces racial income inequality among lower- and middle-income households but may widen it for households in deep poverty.

Bradley Hardy, Charles Hokayem, James Ziliak

Grantee Research

September 29, 2022
Worker voice, representation, and power Report July 28, 2022

Worker Power and Economic Mobility: A Landscape Report

This landscape report summarizes empirical evidence on two main pathways for workers to exercise their power in the labor market: the ability to exit their current job for  better outside options and organizations and institutions that build worker voice within firms.  

Ioana Marinescu, Jake Rosenfeld

WorkRise Research

July 28, 2022