Insights for Workforce Developers and Employers

RECENT ARTICLES

• From Accenture: Responsible AI implies taking intentional actions to design, deploy and use AI to create value and build trust by protecting against the potential risks of AI. To achieve responsible AI, organizations must move beyond defining responsible AI principles and put those principles into practice, operationalizing their responsible AI capabilities across their organization. Click here to read more.

• From The Annie E. Casey Foundation: In its analy­sis, the team behind Fos­ter Care and the Devel­op­ment of Racial and Eth­nic Iden­ti­ty not­ed young peo­ple expressed a wide spec­trum of atti­tudes after shift­ing their racial or eth­nic iden­ti­ties. Draw­ing on inter­views with 29 young peo­ple who have expe­ri­ence in fos­ter care, the brief details the incon­sis­tent expe­ri­ences in the child wel­fare sys­tem that influ­enced the devel­op­ment of their racial and eth­nic iden­ti­ties. Some youth described fos­ter par­ents who helped them learn more about their cul­tures, gain self-con­fi­dence and con­nect with cul­tur­al­ly appro­pri­ate ser­vices. Oth­ers men­tioned case­work­ers or fos­ter par­ents who con­tributed to feel­ings of dis­con­nec­tion or ostracization. Click here to read more.

• From The Aspen Institute: Personal wealth—savings and assets minus debts—is a central component of household financial security for families at all income levels. Obtaining homeownership is frequently and justifiably viewed as a primary way to build secure and sustainable wealth in the United States, particularly for low- to moderate-income households. Indeed, home equity is the largest source of wealth for most people in the U.S. But the path to owning a home is becoming narrower and more challenging to navigate; while many of today’s renters will eventually build wealth through homeownership, a growing number will not. Click here to read more.
  
  
• From Brookings: The U.S. housing supply has struggled to meet demand in the last several decades, driving up costs and deepening affordability challenges. Both state and local governments, as well as the federal government, are actively pursuing policies to help boost housing supply as a key strategy to address housing affordability. However, effective policy solutions require an accurate understanding of the scope of the housing shortage. As highlighted in this brief, the magnitude of the shortage is not straight-forward to measure. Click here to read more. 

• From Center for American Progress: Review of industry standards boards in six states and three cities demonstrates that involving workers and employers in standard-setting processes can empower workers, improve working conditions, and ensure that standards are level across an industry, benefiting both employees and employers. Industry standards boards represent a new participatory model that can improve the lives of workers, address problems faced by employers, and strengthen services in local communities. Click here to read more. 

• From Center on Budget and Policy Priorities: We are a wealthy nation. We can afford to make high-value investments in essential federal programs that provide public goods we all benefit from, including education, a healthy environment, and protections for workers, and that promote future economic growth. Policymakers should reject the deep and damaging cuts in the House Republican appropriations bills. Click here to read more.

• From Economic Policy Institute: Privatization is often touted as a solution to bureaucratic red tape or cutting “wasteful” government spending, but in practice, it can mean cutting the experienced public workforce who administer complicated government programs. This can result in prolonged delays, more people wrongly denied benefits, and ultimately worse outcomes for people who need the benefits most… Proponents of SNAP privatization often point to slow application processing rates as evidence that the existing program is inefficient and in need of “reform.” However, this argument ignores important context on these rates and its connection to declining federal funding for SNAP and shrinking public-sector employment. Click here to read more. 

• From FedCommunities: Benefits cliffs can arise when someone receiving public assistance accepts a new job or raise, or increases their work hours. Their benefits—including food, housing, health care, child care, or other assistance—may decrease faster than their rising income can make up the difference, leaving them staring down sudden gaps in their economic resources. Cliffs may affect people who receive benefits and earn up to about $60,000 a year if their income rises. The potential risk to their financial stability can cause people to back away from promising opportunities. Benefits cliffs pose a risk not only to individual workers who feel they then can’t take on a better job. They also ripple out to impact employers and consumers who depend on skilled employees filling those roles. 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: Gallup’s first poll after the Republican sweep in the 2024 elections finds a mix of changes in key indicators of the national mood. Americans’ confidence in the economy has improved, largely because of increased optimism among Republicans, and slightly more Americans approve of Congress than did before the election. Fewer U.S. adults also name economic matters as the most important problem facing the country. Meanwhile, President Joe Biden’s job approval rating has dipped to 37%, and fewer Americans are satisfied with the way things are going in the U.S. Click here to read more. 

• From the International Association of Workforce Professionals (IAWP): Data has become a cornerstone in workforce development, enabling professionals to make informed decisions that improve job seeker outcomes and support employer needs. Labor Market Information (LMI) provides a data foundation, offering insights into employment trends, in-demand skills, and economic shifts that help workforce development professionals design targeted, effective programs. 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: Effective methane reduction programs necessitate a multidimensional approach to establish precise methane emission baselines, develop robust mitigation plans, and deploy essential enablers—including securing targeted funding and fostering strategic partnerships for implementation. Targeted cooperation of upstream O&G players on methane and flaring reduction could reduce the world’s greenhouse gas emissions by 4 percent by 2030. When compared with the alternatives in other sectors, this may be the lowest-cost 4 percent emission cut available to the planet, offering the oil and gas sector the opportunity to take the lead on the path to net zero while addressing its own emissions. Click here to read more. 

• From the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE): The barriers Hispanic STEM students commonly share focus heavily on the historical components that have plagued them. However, their identities are multifaceted and interconnected, often influencing and impacting their journey in pursuing STEM careers. As the participants stated in their stories, they come to college to be students, but their lived experiences are mixed with the extra pressures of funding their education and excelling and representing their communities. Click here to read more. 

• From the National Association of Counties (NACO): Counties support the majority of the nation’s 2,800 local health departments, which provide essential services like immunizations, disease surveillance and emergency preparedness. Local health departments also partner with communities to address the root causes of health issues, such as social determinants of health; prevent leading causes of death and disability; and reduce healthcare costs. Restoring full funding to the PPHF is critical to sustaining these services and addressing emerging threats. With federal investments making up nearly 25 percent of local health department revenue, increased funding will help counties maintain a robust public health workforce and infrastructure to protect and improve the health of their residents. Click here to read more. 

• From the National Association of Workforce Boards (NAWB): Apprenticeship programs offer veterans a unique opportunity to leverage their military skills in the civilian workforce. By providing a structured, supportive environment, these programs help veterans build prosperous careers while contributing to a skilled and diverse workforce. Click here to read more. 

• From the National Conference of State Legislatures: Seventy-two percent of high school teachers report cellphone distractions as a significant problem in their classrooms, according to a June 2024 survey from the Pew Research Center. And while 10 states have laws or policies regarding cellphones in K-12 classrooms, the debate over banning cellphones in schools continues. 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: It’s understandable that most are tempted to turn to Washington for answers to address the big challenges and seek big investments to move the needle. But here’s the thing, while people are facing challenges that are universal, the solutions don’t all come from Washington. The best solutions often spring up from seeds that are planted in local communities. Job opportunities, employers’ talent needs, education and training systems, and access to resources are grounded in local communities. 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: One of the most significant challenges entrepreneurs of color encounter is access to capital. Securing financial resources can often feel like navigating an environment that doesn’t completely trust or understand us. This difficulty underlines the systemic barriers that exist—making it even more daunting for those without similar accolades. The challenges go beyond funding; they extend to finding mentorship, forming partnerships, and uncovering growth opportunities that lead to sustainable development. Without these essential resources, many entrepreneurs of color struggle to scale their ventures or pivot effectively during times of crisis. Click here to read more. 

• From the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM): Most leaders focus on the top of the pyramid—results and actions. What’s often overlooked is the foundation: beliefs. The way employees think about their work and their organization drives their actions, which in turn drive results. For example, a belief that leadership values innovation will inspire actions like risk-taking and collaboration. Without the right beliefs, even the most well-crafted strategic plans will falter. To cultivate these beliefs, organizations must design intentional experiences. Storytelling, recognition, and feedback are free but powerful tools for shaping how employees perceive their role in achieving organizational goals. Click here to read more.

• From the U.S. Chamber of Commerce: Opinion surveys have long affirmed the vast majority of Americans don’t think about trade often compared to other public policy issues such as jobs or inflation. In Gallup’s October 2024 poll, less than one-half of one percent of Americans named trade as “the most important problem facing America today.” However, contrary to the political debate in Washington, most Americans say they benefit significantly from international trade. The following are findings from a survey of 1,684 people in October 2024 commissioned by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. 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: With healthcare costs rising and demand for care shifting rapidly, the health insurance industry is eager to transform. Yet transformation projects are not a one-size-fits-all endeavor. There are many possible paths to success, as well as common pitfalls to avoid. Click here to read more.

• From WorkingNation: Each year, an estimated 200,000 members of the military transition out of active duty into the civilian workforce. The tech industry, for one, is a pathway to opportunity. Annual job openings in the industry are expected to number around 356,700 for the ten-year period ending in 2033, with employers challenged to find workers with the needed skills. 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.