1. PLAN OF MY TALK The outcomes we care about The myths that block action The economic context Programs to move us forward Beyond programs: building support

2. THE BOTTOM: EXTENT OF LOW WAGE WORK AMONG ADULTS Source: Osterman

3. THE MIDDLE: EMPLOYMENT TO POPULATION RATIO, 25-54 YEAR OLDS SOURCE: BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS

4. FALLING EARNINGS: FULL TIME AND FULL YEAR WORKERS 20022012 Men $50,323$49,398 Women$38,548$37,791 And losses cut across all groups but are worse for Hispanics and African-Americans

5. MYTH 1: BAD JOBS ARE TEMPORARY

6. MYTH 2: IT IS ALL EDUCATION

7. MYTH 3: BECAUSE OF POLARIZATION THE ONLY GOOD JOBS LEFT WILL BE OUT OF REACH OF MOST PEOPLE

8. MYTH 4: INTERVENING MAKES THINGS WORSE

9. SO, PROBLEM IS STRUCTURAL. WHAT HAS HAPPENED?

10. EDUCATION AND SKILL Unequal educational outcomes

11. COLLEGE GRADUATION RATES FOR HIGH AND LOW INCOME CHILDREN

12. CHANGES IN HOW WORK IS ORGANIZED New Pathways Paradoxical (and disturbing) behavior by mainstream employers Low wage employers resist efforts to raise the floor

13. BUT WE CAN’T JUST MAKE FIRMS THE VILLAIN

14. THE BROKEN SOCIAL CONTRACT….

15. PART OF THE PROBLEM IS ALSO THE BROKEN SOCIAL CONTRACT Source: Generated from data provided by Larry Mishel, Economic Policy Institute

16. HOW TO ADDRESS THESE CHALLENGES Strengthen skills system, especially community colleges Make bad jobs good Create more good jobs Organize, and also create a powerful narrative

17. THERE IS AN OPENING The labor force will grow only slowly Increase age 25-54 1980-2000 35 MILLION 2000-2020 3 MILLION Because firms are reducing their internal investment in skills they are looking for help from schools and intermediaries

18. SO, MOVING FORWARD

19. PROGRAMMATIC STEPS Fix Human Capital system: Community Colleges Update and enforce labor standards Policies that work with firms

20. COMMUNITY COLLEGES

21. STANDARDS

22. PROGRAMS THAT WORK WITH FIRMS

23. BUT These are all programs. In fact we know what works or, at least, what is very promising. What is missing is the BROAD BASED SUPPORT to make it happen.

24. MAKING IT HAPPEN

25. And finally, this talk wouldn’t be complete without a picture of my new grandchildren (identical twins, along with my daughters)….

27. THANK YOU