Employment and Workforce Development
The Federal Reserve's Community Development function promotes economic growth and financial stability for low- and moderate-income (LMI) communities and individuals through a range of activities including convening stakeholders, conducting and sharing research, and identifying emerging issues. As households and communities contend with limited resources and persistent challenges, Community Development is focusing on the structural barriers to getting people back to work and restoring their financial stability.
Low-income and hard-to-employ individuals represent diverse segments of the population, each requiring unique policy considerations to assist with access to quality jobs. Historically, youth, less-educated, rural, and minority workers have been over-represented among the unemployed and have lower labor force participation rates. The Community Development staff also recognizes the unique challenges faced by hard-to-employ populations such as the disabled, the homeless, and ex-offenders.
Publications
Experiences and Perspectives of Young Workers
December 2016
In the Shadow of the Great Recession: Experiences and Perspectives of Young Workers
November 2014
Long-Term Unemployment and Workforce Development
November 2012
Related Information
Investing In America's Workforce
Investing in America's Workforce is a Federal Reserve System initiative in collaboration with the John J. Heldrich Center for Workforce Development at Rutgers University, the Ray Marshall Center of the Lyndon B. Johnson School at the University of Texas, and the W.E. Upjohn Institute for Employment Research.
Federal Reserve Human Capital Compendium
In this repository, the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta provides access to research published by the Board of Governors and all 12 Federal Reserve Banks on topics related to employment, unemployment, and workforce development.
Economic Development Podcasts
The Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta's staff provides podcasts on a number of economic topics.
Workforce Development Listening Sessions in Pennsylvania
The community development departments of the Federal Reserve Banks of Cleveland and Philadelphia collaborated on a series of listening sessions throughout Pennsylvania in the summer of 2013. The sessions were designed for Federal Reserve staff to more fully understand the issues and challenges in workforce development.
Speeches
Governor Lael Brainard
December 13, 2017
Workforce Development in Today's Economy
September 26, 2017
Why Persistent Employment Disparities Matter for the Economy's Health
May 22, 2017
Why Opportunity and Inclusion Matter to America's Economic Strength
Chair Janet L. Yellen
March 28, 2017
Addressing Workforce Development Challenges in Low-Income Communities
Governor Sarah Bloom Raskin
March 22, 2013
Focusing on Low- and Moderate-Income Americans
May 12-14, 2014
Reinventing Older Communities: Bridging Growth & Opportunity
October 15-17, 2014
Transforming U.S. Workforce Development Policies for the 21st Century