Realism about Reskilling: Upgrading the Career Prospects of America's Low-Wage Workers. Workforce of the Future Initiative

Every person deserves the opportunity for dignified employment that provides living wages and potential for advancement. However, for many in America today, this is far from reality, as they are caught in a cycle of low-wage work, earning poverty wages, and unable to move up in the economy. Local leaders, firms, and workers need to adapt quickly to keep pace with rapid technological innovation and its transformative impact on the U.S. economy. Using reskilling as a focal point, this report aims to provide policymakers with tools to do so by answering the following questions: (1) Who are the nation's low-wage workers, and what are their prospects?; (2) Where are the local opportunities for mobility, and how can policymakers expand them and help low-wage workers transition?; and (3) How can the reskilling infrastructure adapt to the future, foster inclusion, and address the needs of any worker seeking upward mobility? Combined with the previous report, "Growing Cities that Work for All," this report illustrates the trends affecting low-wage work and the implications for leaders aiming to improve worker mobility. [For "Growing Cities that Work for All," see ED602975. Support from Google.org and MasterCard Center for Inclusive Growth.]