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
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.
Economic context
October 23, 2023
Article
In a Recession, Fewer Liquid Assets Add to Black Financial Instability
Black families are less likely to hold liquid assets than white families and are more vulnerable to economic downturns. Targeted policies can protect these families during the next recession and aid in closing the racial wealth gap.
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.
WorkRise Research
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.
WorkRise Research
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.
Grantee Research
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.
Grantee Research
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.
Grantee Research
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