Labor Markets

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  • Woman wearing a virtual reality headset to explore a mechanical engineering project, photo by Fat Camera/Getty Images

    Essay

    The Digital Skills Gap: What Workers Need for the Jobs of the Future

    Business leaders have warned for years that what they see on job applications does not match what they need in new employees. There are not enough workers with the right digital skills. And as the world economy struggles to its feet after COVID-19, that skills gap threatens to keep pushing it down.

    Mar 1, 2022

  • A parent of two students works as a substitute teacher at the Austin Jewish Academy as the spread of the Omicron variant leads to teacher shortages in Austin, Texas, January 20, 2022, photo by Callaghan O'Hare/Reuters

    Report

    School Staffing Challenges in the Pandemic's Third Year

    As of fall 2021, school staff shortages were most acute for substitutes, bus drivers, special education teachers, and paraprofessionals. The turnover of superintendents was normal but half of them said that they might leave in the next few years or were unsure of how long they would stay.

    Feb 15, 2022

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  • Periodical

    Periodical

    RAND Review: January-February 2018

    This issue highlights RAND research on life inside the Islamic State and on the economic returns of early childhood investments, plus lessons for the U.S. from Britain's approach to free child care.

    Jan 3, 2018

  • Farmer holding a handful of fresh vine ripened tomatoes

    Commercial Book

    I Am Not a Tractor! How Florida Farmworkers Took on the Fast Food Giants and Won

    A new book by Susan Marquis celebrates the courage, vision, and creativity of the farmworkers and community leaders who have transformed one of the worst agricultural situations in the United States into one of the best.

    Dec 15, 2017

  • Robots working in a factory

    Commentary

    The Risks of AI to Security and the Future of Work

    As artificial intelligence (AI) becomes more prevalent in the domains of security and employment, what are the policy implications? What effects might AI have on cybersecurity, criminal and civil justice, and labor market patterns?

    Dec 6, 2017

  • Women at the Mandela Washington Fellowship for Young African Leaders Initiative (YALI): 2015 West Africa Regional Conference

    Dissertation

    Labor Market Outcomes of Youth and Women in Newly Industrialized and Developing Countries

    This dissertation examines the effects of exogenous shocks and labor market policies on employment, wages, and human capital development of youth and women.

    Dec 4, 2017

  • People on a bus commuting to work

    Blog

    Exploring the Challenges Facing American Workers

    A panel of experts at RAND discussed changes in the U.S. economy and findings from a survey that asked more than 3,000 Americans about issues they face in the workplace. Frequent hostility, rising inequality, slow wage growth, and changes in the demand for certain skills are some of the issues affecting workers.

    Sep 15, 2017

  • A business man looking at gears and a drawing of work and innovation

    Multimedia

    The State of the American Worker

    In this Events @ RAND podcast, a panel of RAND's top analysts discuss emerging trends in the labor market and policy options to address inequality and jobs of the future.

    Sep 12, 2017

  • A male office worker reads files at his desk

    Project

    Focus on the American Worker

    The American Worker blog series explores critical topics that affect America's workforce, including the disturbing prevalence of hostile behaviors at work, how self-driving cars will affect the workforce, and why more young workers are relying on their parents.

    Aug 29, 2017

  • Journal Article

    Journal Article

    Personality and Employment Transitions at Older Ages: Direct and Indirect Effects Through Non-Monetary Job Characteristics

    We assess the extent to which personality traits are directly associated with labor force transitions at older ages and moderate the effect of non-monetary job characteristics on retirement decisions.

    Aug 18, 2017

  • Woman chopping vegetables in a restaurant kitchen

    Commentary

    California's Tourism Industry: A Launching Pad for New Careers

    Travel and tourism jobs in California often serve as an entry point for those outside the paid labor force. Nearly 55 percent leave the industry within a few years, some of whom move to another industry but keep the same occupation. Others change occupations as they change industries.

    Jun 29, 2017

  • The Santa Monica Pier in California, illuminated at night with a reflection on shoreline

    Report

    The Effects of Travel and Tourism on California's Economy

    California's travel and tourism industry employs a diverse workforce that makes a meaningful contribution to the state's economy. For some, the industry offers a stable career path with good wages and wage growth. For others, it's a launching point into other industries.

    Jun 27, 2017

  • Journal Article

    Journal Article

    Labor Supply Estimation Biases from Disregarding Nonwage Benefits

    This paper develops and estimates a stochastic dynamic model of occupation and job choice, where nonwage benefits are directly incorporated into the decision alongside wages.

    May 10, 2017

  • Report

    Report

    The impact of the National Minimum Wage on employment: A meta-analysis

    The report considers the effects of the UK national minimum wage on different labour market sub-groups since 1999. The findings suggest that increases in the national minimum wage had no negative employment effects on the overall UK labour market.

    Apr 20, 2017

  • An oil and gas worker operates a drilling rig

    Report

    Wages, Employment, and STEM Education in Appalachia

    An ongoing assessment of employment and wages in energy and advanced manufacturing industries in the Ohio, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia region captures trends about which counties might have greater demand for educating or employing local talent in STEM careers.

    Mar 22, 2017

  • Teacher talking to his university students

    Report

    Managing the Expansion of Graduate Education in Texas

    RAND researchers analyzed policies and practices that the state, higher education systems, and individual higher education institutions in Texas can use to manage the expansion of their master's, doctoral, and professional programs.

    Mar 3, 2017

  • Report

    Report

    Managing the Expansion of Graduate Education in Texas: Executive Summary

    RAND researchers analyzed policies and practices that the state, higher education systems, and individual higher education institutions in Texas can use to manage the expansion of their master's, doctoral, and professional programs.

    Mar 3, 2017

  • Adult students attending a computer course

    Commentary

    Community Colleges Can Be 'First Responders' in Retraining Displaced Workers

    Many of the occupations with the most opportunities require two-year degrees or certificates. Community colleges play a key role in training students for these jobs and offer a supportive environment for displaced and dissatisfied workers.

    Feb 16, 2017

  • Metal tooth wheel mechanism concept of inequality and equality

    Commentary

    Curbing Globalization Won't Halt the Rise of Inequality

    Globalization may be one of many factors driving inequality. But ending trade agreements and throwing up trade barriers is unlikely to stop this trend.

    Dec 14, 2016

  • Young barista working in a cafe

    Commentary

    Finding the 'Sweet Spot' in the UK Minimum Wage Debate

    Increases in the UK national minimum wages have not had adverse effects on employment overall. But it's important that the new national living wage and minimum wage aren’t increased to a point that is unsustainable for businesses.

    Nov 28, 2016

  • The blast furnaces at the now-closed Bethlehem Steel mill remain standing in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, April 22, 2016

    Commentary

    America's Shifting Labor Market in a Technology-Driven World

    Making America competitive in a transitioning market will require examining future labor market requirements. Workforce development programs that target building labor capacity for a new economy will be essential.

    Nov 25, 2016

  • Antoine van Agtmael, Lawrence Ingrassia, and Randal Quarles at RAND's Politics Aside event in Santa Monica, November 12, 2016

    Blog

    Who Wins Globalization?

    While more needs to be done for those who once worked in industries such as furniture manufacturing, where essentially all activity has moved to lower-cost nations, the U.S. is starting to see an increase in manufacturing activity because of new types of technological advances.

    Nov 14, 2016

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