Growing Fairly: How to Build Opportunity and Equity in Workforce Development

The book offers practical ideas for improving the American labor system, written by practitioners for practitioners, with a focus on effective practices and coordinated missions.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 220 pages
Publication date: 22 February 2022
Publisher: Brookings Institution

This book is not just a collection of untested theories; it is written by practitioners for practitioners. It offers a unique perspective, with the voices of those who run programs and people who have taken advantage of them telling the story. The issues addressed in the book are profound, but the authors take an optimistic approach. Together, they have spent decades searching out and supporting effective practices, and they have also learned how to knit competing agencies and organizations into cohesive systems with coordinated missions. Their practical ideas will benefit a wide range of readers, from practitioners in the field to students and scholars of the American labor system.

The book is divided into three parts. The first part provides an overview of the American labor system, including its history, structure, and current challenges. The second part focuses on the various programs and services that are available to workers, including unemployment insurance, worker's compensation, and retirement savings plans. The third part explores the challenges that workers face in accessing these programs and services, and the strategies that can be used to address these challenges.

One of the key themes of the book is the importance of collaboration and coordination among different agencies and organizations. The authors argue that this is essential to ensuring that workers receive the support they need to succeed in the labor market. They provide several examples of successful collaborations, such as the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) and the Affordable Care Act (ACA).

Another important theme of the book is the importance of providing workers with the skills and training they need to succeed in the labor market. The authors argue that this is essential to reducing unemployment and increasing economic growth. They provide several examples of successful training programs, such as apprenticeships and job training programs.

The book also addresses the issue of income inequality. The authors argue that income inequality is a major problem in the American labor system and that it is contributing to a range of social and economic problems. They provide several examples of strategies that can be used to address income inequality, such as raising the minimum wage and implementing tax policies that support low-income families.

In addition to the practical ideas presented in the book, the authors also provide a range of case studies and examples. These examples help to illustrate the challenges that workers face and the strategies that can be used to address them. The case studies include workers from a variety of industries, including manufacturing, healthcare, and education.

One of the strengths of the book is its accessibility. The authors have written in a clear and concise style, and they have included a range of examples and case studies to help illustrate their points. The book is also well-organized, and it is easy to follow.

However, the book does have some limitations. One of the main limitations is that it does not address the issue of automation and the impact it is having on the American labor system. Automation is a major trend in the labor market, and it is likely to have a significant impact on the future of work. The authors do not provide any specific strategies for addressing automation, and this is a significant omission.

Another limitation of the book is that it does not address the issue of global labor markets. Global labor markets are becoming increasingly important, and they are likely to have a significant impact on the American labor system. The authors do not provide any specific strategies for addressing global labor markets, and this is a significant omission.

Despite these limitations, the book is a valuable resource for practitioners in the field of labor policy. It provides a clear and concise overview of the American labor system, and it offers a range of practical ideas for addressing the challenges that workers face. The book is also well-organized, and it is easy to follow.

In conclusion, this book is not just a collection of untested theories; it is written by practitioners for practitioners. It offers a unique perspective, with the voices of those who run programs and people who have taken advantage of them telling the story. The issues addressed in the book are profound, but the authors take an optimistic approach. Together, they have spent decades searching out and supporting effective practices, and they have also learned how to knit competing agencies and organizations into cohesive systems with coordinated missions. Their practical ideas will benefit a wide range of readers, from practitioners in the field to students and scholars of the American labor system.

Dimension: 229 x 152 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780815739487