Economic Opportunity in a Volatile Economy

Project Overview

Research Team

Acknowledgements

What's in this Report?

Why Silicon Valley and Milwaukee?

Project Data and Method Overview

Market Meeters vs. Market Makers

Major Findings

Recommendations for Practice and Policy

Building on our Work

Interested in more details?

See the PDF file of our Final Report

See other project documents

Overview

Over the last three decades, American workers have witnessed marked changes in their jobs and earnings. Global competition, new technologies, and employer restructuring are bringing a distinct shift in the employment relationship, including an erosion of career ladders within individual firms. One response to these shifting employment conditions has been a rapid growth of labor market intermediaries (LMIs). Intermediaries come in a variety of forms, ranging from temporary agencies and professional associations to union hiring halls and community-based organizations. Almost all LMIs engage in job brokering activities, matching job seekers with individual employers. In some cases, intermediaries also provide training as well as access to jobs with real opportunities for advancement. In other cases, placements involve temporary, dead-end employment.