Overview

People’s access to opportunity and advancement in the labor market is shaped by macroeconomic forces, technological change, policy choices, and labor market dynamics. Over the past 40 years, these influences have culminated in greater income inequality and less upward economic mobility for US workers. They have also contributed to a growing share of low-wage jobs in the US labor market. WorkRise generates evidence on and elevates our understanding of how macroeconomic, technological change, policy, and labor market dynamics influence economic security and mobility.

Working Knowledge

Economic context January 16, 2024
Video

WorkRise Shorts: Agricultural Worker Shortage with Diane Charlton

January 16, 2024
Economic context January 09, 2024
Video

WorkRise Shorts: Perspectives of Energy Workers in the US with Diane M. Sicotte

January 09, 2024
Economic context December 04, 2023
Video

WorkRise Shorts: What’s Driving Wage Differences by Gender and Race? with Kate Bahn and Mark Stelzner

Research by Stelzner and WorkRise research director Kate Bahn looks at the persistent wage disparities between similar workers of different races, ethnicities, and genders. The analysis finds a larger wage penalty for women workers who are Latina or Black and highlights how employers’ profit-maximizing strategies can reinforce racism and misogynistic views by creating wage differences and rewarding discriminating firms.
December 04, 2023
Economic context October 31, 2023
Research Summary

Noncompete Agreements Hurt Economic Mobility for All Workers

Research shows that when noncompete agreements have high enforceability, workers earn less money and move jobs less frequently. This affects workers in nearby labor markets who are not under noncompete agreements, and widens gender and racial pay gaps.

Madeline Baxter

October 31, 2023

Research

Economic context Report November 20, 2023

Quantifying the Costs of Rising Unemployment

Rising unemployment brings significant costs to workers, their families, social outcomes, and the economy at-large. The contemporary tight labor market provides a good opportunity for researchers to better understand the benefits of low unemployment and thus the risks of high unemployment.

Joe Peck

WorkRise Research

November 20, 2023
Economic context Infographic September 12, 2023

Leveraging Federal Funds to Create Quality Jobs

Do you want better jobs for your community? Through new federal dollars, state and local policymakers have a once-in-a-generation chance to build a new and thriving workforce.

Pamela J. Loprest , Todd Greene, Ryan Kelsey

WorkRise Research

September 12, 2023
Economic context Executive Summary March 15, 2023

How Past Criminal Convictions Bar Floridians from Occupational Licensing Opportunities

In this report, the Florida Policy Institute and the DeVoe L. Moore Center at Florida State University highlight research exploring the relationship between occupational licensing and recidivism and the consequences of overregulation on workforce development. The authors also survey the landscape of Florida’s occupational licensing laws and policy reform efforts and present policy proposals to reduce professional licensing barriers for people with criminal records.

Tachana Joseph-Marc, Samuel R. Staley

Grantee Research

March 15, 2023
Social determinants of work March 15, 2022

Expanding Child Care Subsidies to Parents in Education and Training

A fact sheet summarizes findings from a new WorkRise report that models a hypothetical policy scenario where more parents in education and training were eligible for and received public child care subsidies.

Gina Adams, Linda Giannarelli, Nathan Sick, Kelly Dwyer

Grantee Research

March 15, 2022
Social determinants of work Report March 15, 2022

Implications of Providing Child Care Assistance to Parents In Education and Training

New WorkRise research uses microsimulation to model a hypothetical policy scenario where more parents in education and training were eligible for and received public child care subsidies.

Gina Adams, Linda Giannarelli, Nathan Sick, Kelly Dwyer

Grantee Research

March 15, 2022

Upcoming Events

Apr

02 - 04

Workforce Matters

Further Together: Advancing Equity Through Workforce

View Event Details

May

15 - 17

New Growth Innovation Network

Bringing Small & Midsize Cities Together for Big Impact

View Event Details


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