The Future of Work is concerned with promoting a sustainable vision for the future of the American workforce. As the modern workplace changes and Americans seek to find their place in it, we need a comprehensive approach to work that considers Americans at all stages of their career – from pre-career to retirement. In order to create an inclusive ecosystem for the entire American workforce, the workers, employers, organizations concerned with the workforce, and government must work collaboratively. We believe that improving the workforce improves the economy which in turn enriches the lives of all Americans.
Who We Are:
The Future of Work is a national 501c(4) social welfare organization focused on the development and adoption of symbiotic workplace policies and programs, in addition to guiding America’s workforce to a sustainable future where workers and business owners alike can prosper and grow.
We are concerned with promoting a sustainable vision for the future of the American workforce. As the modern workplace changes and Americans seek to find their place in it, we need a comprehensive approach to work that considers Americans at all stages of their career – from pre-career to retirement. In order to create an inclusive ecosystem for the entire American workforce, workers, employers, organizations concerned with the workforce, and the government must work collaboratively.
We believe that leaders must act now to enact policies at the local, state, and federal levels to tackle the uncertain future of work, and have founded The Future of Work PAC to find solutions for workers in this changing economy. Our mission is to build a movement that will bring our political leaders together to solve the toughest problems and make our government work.
The modern American work environment is failing both the worker and the employer. The path to success requires creating a cohesive system of cooperation between workers, employers, labor minded organizations, and government.
The Problem
Everyone needs a meaningful job. Employment provides the means to gain access to basic amenities such as healthcare shelter, electricity and clean water – all essential to our overall well-being and happiness. It also has the ability to transform an entire community by ensuring access to quality education, clean and safe streets, and fostering social cohesion among residents. While employment continues to increase, the nation faces an urgent and growing need for talent.
There will be more than 55 million job vacancies in the economy through 2021. The McCourt School of Public Policy at Georgetown estimated that 65 percent of the job openings will require some college or an associate’s degree and only 36 percent of the job openings will not require education beyond high school. Employers will seek cognitive skills such as communication and analytics from job applicants rather than physical skills traditionally associated with manufacturing. According to the U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics only 49 percent of Americans hold an associate’s degree or higher. Those numbers put Americans in precarious positions to obtain work that they are qualified or certified for. Dramatic and immediate action needs to be taken to close these gaps and to help facilitate employment with a living wage for all Americans.
The Solution
The only way to fix this all around failure is identify and advocate for policies at the national, state, and local level that address the needs of employees, employers, government, and labor minded organizations.
- Identifying successful models and policies in the states that help address these issues
- Identifying elected officials who are leading on workforce development and job training
- Identifying industry experts who are conducting research and promoting ideas to close the skills gap
- Creating a coalition of policy experts to discuss and recommend the newest and most innovative solutions to the skills gap
- Dispersing information to key stakeholders: elected officials, policymakers, labor unions, business leaders, relevant nonprofit organizations, colleges and universities, the general public
- Serving as a conduit of information on workforce development
- Creating a nonpartisan space where elected officials can promote their new policy solutions
- Advocate for workforce development legislation and policy solutions in the states
- Creating a community of forward thinking individuals who care about jobs and the economy and will mobilize around this issue
