Hospitality, Restaurants, & Retail

Research and evaluation conducted by the Economic Opportunities Program’s Workforce Strategies Initiative explore strategies that help workers attain stability and mobility, including through training, education, and broader systems change.

In the years since the end of the Great Recession, the unemployment rate has declined much faster than the poverty rate, and more and more Americans are struggling to find work that allows them to support themselves and their families. WSI’s current research explores “raise the floor and build ladders” strategies, which improve the quality of low-wage jobs and promote mobility for low-wage workers.

Cover page: "The Benefits of Bridging Divides: How YouthBuild Philly Shares its Supportive Practices to Build Business Value and Better Jobs"
Publications

The Benefits of Bridging Divides: How YouthBuild Philly Shares its Supportive Practices to Build Business Value and Better Jobs

YouthBuild Philly shows how businesses can develop supportive practices to help young people succeed at work.

Q&A: New Approaches to Engaging Retailers
Publications

Q&A: New Approaches to Engaging Retailers

Learn how workforce boards across the country are engaging with the retail sector.

Cover page: "Harnessing Digital Technology for Frontline Worker Mobility: Eat’n Park’s Partnered Approach"
Publications

Harnessing Digital Technology for Frontline Worker Mobility: Eat’n Park’s Partnered Approach

How can online training improve worker mobility? Companies play an important role in making opportunity accessible to workers.

Question Bank for Workforce Service Providers: A Tool for Working with Retailers
Publications

Question Bank for Workforce Service Providers: A Tool for Working with Retailers

Learning-focused conversations can help workforce development professionals build relationships with retail businesses.

Cost of Turnover Tool: Make the business case to improve retention through upskilling and stability
Publications

Cost of Turnover Tool

Estimate how much your business spends each year replacing staff in one occupation.

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Publications

A Retailer Bets on Learning and Development: Goodwill Industries® of San Diego County

Faced with a higher minimum wage, Goodwill San Diego chose to invest in its workforce rather than cut staff. Learn how retail and other low-margin industries can remain competitive despite increased labor costs, such as minimum wage increases.

Chicago's Fresh Approach to Incumbent Worker Training (report cover)
Publications

Chicago’s Fresh Approach to Incumbent Worker Training

This family-owned grocer recognizes what it takes to succeed in a rapidly changing industry.

First page of "Competing on Service: The Case for Good Jobs at the Omni Hotel"
Publications
BEST Corp: Quality Training for Quality Jobs
Publications

BEST Corp: Quality Training for Quality Jobs

Hospitality ranks among America’s fastest-growing sectors, but millions of hotel workers are not reaping the rewards.

Profiles of the Restaurant Workforce and Restaurant Opportunities Center-United
Publications

Profiles of the Restaurant Workforce and Restaurant Opportunities Center-United

This report details the dynamics and challenges of the residential construction industry and provides a profile of the Workers Defense Project, a non-profit and membership-based organization based in Austin, Texas that seeks to provide low-wage workers, particularly those in the construction industry, with resources to improve their working and living conditions.

The Retail Trade Workforce in the United States
Publications

The Retail Trade Workforce in the United States

This resource provides an overview of retail work in the United States including information about the demographics of workers in the industry, the size of the workforce, wages and benefits, and working conditions.

The Restaurant Workforce in the United States
Publications

The Restaurant Workforce in the United States

This resource provides an overview of the restaurant workforce in the United States including information about the demographics of workers in the industry, the size of the workforce, wages and benefits, and working conditions.

About the Workforce Strategies Initiative

The Workforce Strategies Initiative, part of the Economic Opportunities Program, uses research and evaluation to explore strategies that help workers attain stability and mobility, including through training, education, and broader systems change.

About the Economic Opportunities Program

The Aspen Institute Economic Opportunities Program advances strategies, policies, and ideas to help low- and moderate-income people thrive in a changing economy.

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More from the Workforce Strategies Initiative

Cover Page for the publication "Race and Gender Wealth Equity and the Role of Employee Share Ownership"
Publications

Race and Gender Wealth Equity and the Role of Employee Share Ownership

Employee ownership can promote equity, improve job quality, and boost business performance.

Cover page for the report "Unpacking the Work of Work-Based Learning"
Publications

Unpacking the Work of Work-Based Learning

Enhancing Conversations Between Employers and Workforce Professionals
Blog Posts

Enhancing Conversations Between Employers and Workforce Professionals

Many young people need job and training opportunities. How do workforce professionals talk about these issues with employers?

Voices from the Field: Engaging Employers to Connect Young Adults to Good Fit Employment
Publications

Voices from the Field: Engaging Employers to Connect Young Adults to Good Fit Employment

Young workers are facing dire employment prospects. But asking employers the right questions can help identify opportunities.

Cover page: "The Benefits of Bridging Divides: How YouthBuild Philly Shares its Supportive Practices to Build Business Value and Better Jobs"
Publications

The Benefits of Bridging Divides: How YouthBuild Philly Shares its Supportive Practices to Build Business Value and Better Jobs

YouthBuild Philly shows how businesses can develop supportive practices to help young people succeed at work.

Cover Page: "Genesis at Work: Evaluating the Effects of Manufacturing Extension on Business Success and Job Quality"
Publications

Genesis at Work: Evaluating the Effects of Manufacturing Extension on Business Success and Job Quality

Workforce practices are central to a firm’s success. What happens when companies focus on people and process equally?

A Toolkit to Engage Employers and Opportunity Youth on the Future of Work
Publications

A Toolkit to Engage Employers and Opportunity Youth on the Future of Work

How can we ensure Opportunity Youth are positioned to succeed in the future of work?

Cost of Turnover Tool: Make the business case to improve retention through upskilling and stability
Publications

Cost of Turnover Tool

Estimate how much your business spends each year replacing staff in one occupation.