Workforce Development Insights

RECENT ARTICLES

From Accenture: Transparency and accountability in AI are about making sure we can understand why AI makes the decisions it does and ensuring responsible use. By prioritizing transparency and accountability, we can build trust in AI systems, foster responsible use, and ensure that AI remains a force for good in society. Click here to read more.

From The Annie E. Casey Foundation: Each center allows graduates to earn high school diplomas, industry-recognized credentials or even college credits through dual enrollment. Each student also receives an educational experience that’s tailored to their individual needs. “We focus on direct instruction from a teacher in small classrooms, so that our students get personalized attention,” said Sarah Thomas, senior director of the Excel Center National Office for Goodwill of Central & Southern Indiana. “Our role is to help each student determine what their path to graduation looks like and what they want to do once they have that high school diploma.” Click here to read more.

From The Aspen Institute: While many predicted the rise of the gig economy, few anticipated just how fast or how many people would adopt gig work. Workers turned to gig work because it gave them more control over their lives, but found themselves missing the benefits of traditional work — things like a minimum wage or paid sick leave. Laws and regulations haven’t kept up with the explosive growth of gig work, so gig companies can’t provide these sorts of benefits without risking workers’ status as independent contractors. This leaves workers in limbo. Click here to read more.

From Brookings: For the labor movement as a whole, this research emphasizes that collective action remains a potent force for change, even in an era of union decline. Specifically, our work highlights the effectiveness of coordinating actions across multiple workplaces or regions; for example, coordinated teacher strikes took place in more conservative areas where strikes were more likely to be illegal but nevertheless were able to make similar gains as individual district strikes. We also emphasize the importance of leveraging public opinion and political pressure alongside traditional bargaining tactics. Click here to read more.

From Center for American Progress: Technology can be a powerful driver of innovation in education. As school districts adjust to its rapid evolution, education and technology leaders, as well as policymakers, must make certain that accessibility remains a top priority. The rise in online schooling has continued since the pandemic; therefore, it’s important that districts plan for the present and the future. Click here to read more.

From Center on Budget and Policy Priorities: While Social Security lifts more people above the poverty line than any other government program, significant gaps in the system leave many elderly and disabled people in poverty. Eight million people aged 65 and older have incomes below the poverty line, as do 3.6 million non-elderly adults with disabilities. Click here to read more.

From Economic Policy Institute: In recent years, many industry stakeholders have increasingly focused on recruiting more women and workers of color to construction apprenticeship training. These efforts are designed not only to increase diversity and access to good jobs, but also to expand the pipeline of committed apprentices who will become the next generation of skilled trades workers in the United States. Assessing diversity outcomes within these registered apprenticeship training programs, however, has long encountered a problem: Data collected by the U.S. Department of Labor from states and programs are often incomplete and notoriously riddled with inaccuracies. Click here to read more.

From FedCommunities: As extreme weather becomes increasingly frequent and severe, its disproportionate impact on low- and moderate-income (LMI) communities grows. The recent regional devastation of Hurricanes Helene and Milton reemphasized this reality. The community development teams at the Federal Reserve Banks of New York, Philadelphia, and Cleveland each conducted studies shedding light on these communities’ vulnerabilities and their flood-risk exposure. The studies delve into the economic, social, and environmental consequences of flooding. They aim to inform policymakers and community leaders on resiliency measures most needed in the face of growing climate risk. Click here to read more.

From the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta: Homeownership can offer long term financial stability and an ability to generate generational wealth. But research conducted by the Atlanta Fed, Cleveland Fed, Chicago Fed, and others has shown that a certain type of seller-financed home purchase, the contract for deed (CFD), can put consumers at increased risk for loss of both housing and equity.1 In August 2024, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) issued an advisory opinion addressing many of the disadvantages placed on consumers purchasing a home under CFD. Click here to read more.

From Gallup Workplace Insights: The rapid adoption of AI tools for business and other digital technologies is having a profound impact on organizations and their employees as nondigital processes and ways of working are fundamentally transformed. This workplace revolution has resulted in a gap between the rapid availability of artificial intelligence tools and the extent to which employees are using them. Employees are broadly optimistic about AI’s potential — two-thirds believe AI will have a somewhat (52%) or extremely (14%) positive impact on their work. However, nearly seven in 10 employees never use AI at all, and only one in 10 use AI applications at least weekly. Click here to read more.

From the International Association of Workforce Professionals (IAWP): In an increasingly digital world, social media has become a pivotal tool in the job search process, particularly for younger generations. A recent U.S. study conducted by CareerArc, in collaboration with The Harris Poll, sheds light on this trend. The study, which surveyed over 2,000 U.S. adults who have held jobs, reveals some compelling statistics about how jobseekers are utilizing social media to find employment. Click here to read more.

From Jobs for the Future: Pathways for Paras advances workforce equity by creating career pathways for workers who might otherwise face barriers limiting their ability to access or complete traditional education and training programs. All instruction and learning activities are delivered remotely, allowing paraeducators to pursue certification while remaining in their current jobs and enabling rural districts to address teacher shortages with homegrown talent and ensure that their K-12 students will have long-term access to quality education. Click here to read more.

From JPMorganChase: …[T]he energy transition is a significant global challenge, requiring action from both governments and private sector actors to overcome economic, systemic and policy barriers. This includes the need for constructive government action on taxes, permitting, energy grids and infrastructure. That is why we continue to work with our clients to identify major hurdles to tackling the carbon transition—such as the need for permitting reform, electric grid modernization and interconnection—to seek to move forward with concrete solutions. Click here to read more.

From Manpower: The changing consumer trends are driving significant shifts in worker preferences for employment. Demographic changes, evolving consumer behaviors, and technological advancements are shaping the types of jobs that are in demand and the skills that are valued. Companies that adapt to these trends and offer attractive employment opportunities will be well-positioned to thrive in this dynamic landscape. As the world continues to evolve, it is essential for both employers and employees to stay attuned to these changes and be proactive in embracing new opportunities. The future of work is undoubtedly intertwined with the future of consumer behavior, making it a fascinating area to watch and explore. Click here to read more.

From McKinsey & Company: The race is on to build sufficient data center capacity to support a massive acceleration in the use of AI. Data center demand has already soared in response to the role data plays in modern lives. But with the emergence of generative AI (gen AI), demand is set to rise even higher. And that is likely to presage a supply deficit. Click here to read more.

From the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE): Supporting arts students isn’t easy. The students often display black-and-white thinking about identity and career, and many career services professionals have limited knowledge of arts-specific career planning and the labor market for arts students. In addition, at many institutions, career center outreach and programming rarely focus on arts careers and pathways, leaving students to rely on their skill-focused instructors for guidance and mentorship. Click here to read more.

From the National Association of Counties (NACO): NACo joined partners in advocating for a narrower definition of “in custody” to expand access to vital healthcare services. In direct response to these comments, CMS clarified in the final rule that individuals released to the community pending trial, such as those in pretrial supervision or released on cash bail, as well as individuals on parole or probation and residing in halfway houses or home detention are not considered to be in “custody.” This important update ensures these individuals can maintain access to Medicare benefits, supporting better health outcomes and smoother transitions back into the community. Click here to read more.

From the National Association of Workforce Boards (NAWB): On Thursday, Nov. 21, 2024, leaders of the House Education and the Workforce Committee and the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee announced that they have reached a bipartisan and bicameral agreement on legislation to reauthorize the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) for the next five years. Click here to read more.

From the National Conference of State Legislatures: People who are incarcerated have higher rates of mental illness, substance use disorder, and chronic and physical health care needs than the general population and are particularly vulnerable upon release, according to the Kaiser Family Foundation. Until recently, states were prohibited from using federal funds to provide health care services to incarcerated people through the Medicaid program. But changes in federal law have created new opportunities for states to use Medicaid to provide prerelease health care services. Click here to read more.

From the National League of Cities (NLC): Through the efforts of Kids Hope Alliance (KHA), the City of Jacksonville continues to make significant strides in ensuring the well-being of its children and youth. KHA plays a pivotal role as a funding agency for the City of Jacksonville. By investing millions annually in programs for children and youth programs, KHA not only provides essential services but also carefully manages and monitors their outcomes to guarantee quality and effectiveness. Through partnerships with local non-profit organizations and providers, KHA is helping thousands of children access a continuum of services ranging from early learning to nutrition to mental health support. Click here to read more.

From the National Fund for Workforce Solutions: Even as the pandemic subsided, labor shortages among essential workers like nurses, surgical technicians, and medical assistants persist. Healthcare remains one of the largest sectors of the U.S. economy, employing over 20 million people, roughly 12.5% of the working population as of 2022. As the population ages, the demand for healthcare workers will continue to grow. However, the COVID crisis exacerbated tightness in the U.S. labor market, which experts believe will be with us for the foreseeable future. This is a wake-up call to the entire sector to rethink its approach to recruiting and retaining employees. Click here to read more.

From the National Skills Coalition: We also know what’s on the line over the next few years. In our diverse, multiracial country, where people of color will make up over half of the workforce by 2030, we must design workforce policies that remove the barriers that have historically excluded too many working people, especially people of color and women. Providing true opportunity means more than equal treatment—it requires us to invest in resources and solutions tailored to communities that have faced a long history of differential treatment and injustice, from one generation to the next. Click here to read more.

From Prosperity Now: Social entrepreneurship is a journey of discovery, one that will push you to grow and evolve. For us at Centro, listening to our community has sparked insights and innovations we could never have achieved in isolation. By staying open to learning, you’ll refine your solutions and foster a stronger, more meaningful connection with the communities you serve. Click here to read more.

From the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM): When asked which perks might lead them to accept a lower salary, 50.9% of employees indicated they’d do so for better work/life balance, while 44.6% would consider it for an improved work environment or company culture. Additionally, 40.8% said they’d accept lower pay in exchange for greater work flexibility. This highlights a growing preference for nonmonetary benefits in employee retention strategies, signaling that HR leaders must prioritize holistic well-being initiatives, foster meaningful work experiences, and offer flexible workplace options to enhance employee satisfaction and loyalty. Click here to read more.

From the U.S. Chamber of Commerce: By placing burdensome requirements on subscription models, the rule discourages companies of all sizes from offering automatic renewals, recurring payments, and even free trials. Unfortunately, it is the consumer who will ultimately feel the impact of the rule, in the form of fewer options and higher prices. The potential for reduced offerings works against the FTC’s consumer protection mission. Click here to read more.

From Workforce Monitor: “Far too many job seekers are feeling lost when it comes to effectively navigating the process of finding new employment,” said Richard Wahlquist, chief executive officer at ASA. “There’s clearly a disconnect between the expectations of candidates and their understanding of current labor market conditions and of understanding of what employers are looking for. Click here to read more.

From Workday: When it comes to setting up for the future, it’s important for organizations to have a mission—and the right people, Floering said. “Our employee retention is very good, and I think that’s because we’ve always had a clear focus of, ‘This is what we want to do. This is what we need to go execute. Let’s go do that as a company.’ And I think that’s led to employee satisfaction, as well as company success,” he added. Click here to read more.

From WorkingNation: Despite popular misconceptions, COVID isn’t to blame for the teacher shortage. While the pandemic amplified the issue, the need was great before then. Registered apprenticeships is one solution to the shortage that is gaining some traction. “Well before the pandemic, we were short qualified educators,” says Maureen Tracey-Mooney, senior advisor for the U.S. Department of Education Office of Planning, Evaluation and Policy Development. “We were short an estimated 100,000 certified teachers. And by that we mean teachers that are teaching in their certification areas. So they’re teaching a different subject matter than they’re certified to teach in. They’re not under an emergency certification. Click here to read more.

From WorkRise: Manufacturing is critical to the American economy. One in 12 US workers currently work in the manufacturing sector, and a total of 19 million people work in supply chain occupations, including manufacturing, transportation, or warehousing jobs. Historically, manufacturing jobs provided good wages and job security, but this is not always the case today. As the United States heavily invests in this sector with new federal- and state-level funding, the manufacturing industry has opportunities to center its workforce for improved worker economic security and well-being, family-sustaining wages, business performance, and long-term national success. Click here to read more.

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DATA TOOLS

From Atlanta Regional Commission: Each week ARC, in partnership with Neighborhood Nexus, provides updated research and analytics through the 33^on blog. From a look at housing, rental rates, and cost of living to the job market and latest on wages, this blog is a one-stop portal to a treasure trove of local and regional data. Click here to learn more.

From Brookings: Using data from hundreds of thousands of real job transitions, the Job Mobility and Smart Growth Toolkit shows how workers can advance through labor markets—featuring national and city-by-city data on wage levels, local labor demand, and job mobility rankings for 441 occupations, from retail salespeople to cooks to computer programmers. Click here to see the toolkit.

From the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta, Center for Workforce and Economic Opportunity (CWEO): The Unemployment Claims Monitor displays data from the weekly and monthly unemployment claims reports from the U.S. Department of Labor. It is updated every Thursday. Users will find weekly and monthly data on claims and on who have filed for unemployment insurance, including special unemployment programs like Short-Time Compensation (or Workshare), Unemployment Compensation for Federal Employees, Ex-Service Members, and Extended Benefits programs. The Opportunity Occupations Monitor displays opportunity employment and its prevalence across labor markets. Opportunity employment is an estimate of the number and share of jobs accessible to workers without a bachelor’s degree that pays more than the national median wage. Click here to learn more.

From the Georgia Department of Labor: The Georgia Department of Labor provides access to a complete set of data tools for workforce developers to better understand the labor market conditions in Georgia. The portal also includes resources for job seekers and employers. Click here to learn more.

From Georgia Power: Georgia Power’s Community & Economic Development team maintains interactive tools to take a deeper dive into the data on target industries, the labor force, and more. Click here to learn more.

From the National Fund for Workforce Solutions: The National Fund for Workforce Solutions’ Workforce Equity Dashboard provides disaggregated data that uncovers racial gaps in workforce outcomes, identifies opportunities to advance racial equity across systems, and informs high-impact strategies to build a future where employers, workers, and communities prosper. This dashboard was developed in partnership with the National Equity Atlas. Click here to learn more.

From Neighborhood Nexus: Neighborhood Nexus, a data partner of ARC, developed Data Nexus, a powerful tool to find, visualize, analyze, and download community data including demographic, education, health, and economic indicators from state and national sources, all in one place. Click here to learn more.

From the Partnership for Southern Equity: The Metro Atlanta Racial Equity Atlas (MAREA) is designed to offer an immersive, story-centric experience that contextualizes personal narratives with engaging, interactive community data and historical background. This tool has been developed by the Partnership for Southern Equity, Neighborhood Nexus, and archi. Click here to learn more.

From Prosperity Now: The Prosperity Now Scorecard is a comprehensive resource for data on household financial health, racial economic inequality, and policy recommendations to help put everyone in our country on a path to prosperity. Click here to access.

From the Technical College System of Georgia: TCSG’s Data and Research provides access to the System Scorecard, enrollment data, and more. Click here to learn more.

From the University of Georgia, Carl Vinson Institute of Government (CVIOG): CVIOG has developed toolkits and other resources on a variety of workforce topics. Click here to learn more.

From the U.S. Chamber of Commerce: Right now, there are too many jobs without people to fill them. As a result, businesses can’t grow, compete, or thrive. The America Works Data Center captures trends on job openings, labor force participation, quit rates, and more. Click here to learn more.

From WorkSource Georgia: Through its portal, WorkSource Georgia provides access to labor market facts, area profiles, industry profiles, educational profiles, and occupational profiles. Click here to learn more.