In order to build wealth and create opportunities in and across America’s underserved communities, and reverse the troubling trends we’re seeing in our economy, we no longer find it defensible to focus on job creation alone. It’s clear that job creation does not itself equate to lasting economic change. And so, we must shift our focus to the creation of higher quality jobs — jobs that are good for workers and their families, good for businesses, and good for communities — enabling us to build an economy that works for everyone. Each month, we bring you the latest roundup of news from the fight for quality jobs for working people. There was a study this month on the effects of Seattle’s newly implemented $15 minimum wage, and it kicked off a wide-ranging discussion and a lot of criticism. The study said that raising the wage caused companies across the city … Read More
An Economy For Everyone: May Good Jobs Recap
In order to build wealth and create opportunities in and across America’s underserved communities, and reverse the troubling trends we’re seeing in our economy, we no longer find it defensible to focus on job creation alone. It’s clear that job creation does not itself equate to lasting economic change. And so, we must shift our focus to the creation of higher quality jobs — jobs that are good for workers and their families, good for businesses, and good for communities — enabling us to build an economy that works for everyone. Each month, we bring you the latest roundup of news from the fight for quality jobs for working people. The minimum wage has been in the news a lot this month – both for good and for ill. The minimum wage’s buying power is less today than it was in 1950 – and the millions of working families who … Read More
Public Policy and Investments in Good Quality Jobs
Despite years of economic growth and a declining unemployment rate, the economy – from the perspective of many Americans – is far from healthy. For decades, wages for everyone but the top quintile of earners have remained stagnant or declined, while Americans’ participation in the workforce is at its lowest level in nearly forty years. At Pacific Community Ventures, we believe that community development financial institutions (CDFIs) and the broader impact investing industry are ideally positioned to tackle this issue by supporting businesses that create high-quality jobs offering decent wages, benefits, career and wealth-building opportunities, and fair and engaging workplaces. Yet America’s jobs problem is too large and complex for individual businesses and investors to confront on their own. Without a concerted effort by government to improve job quality in partnership with businesses, investors, and the social sector, we cannot credibly expect to see changes in the economic trends that … Read More
An Economy For Everyone: April Good Jobs Recap
In order to build wealth and create opportunities in and across America’s underserved communities, and reverse the troubling trends we’re seeing in our economy, we no longer find it defensible to focus on job creation alone. It’s clear that job creation does not itself equate to lasting economic change. And so, we must shift our focus to the creation of higher quality jobs — jobs that are good for workers and their families, good for businesses, and good for communities — enabling us to build an economy that works for everyone. Each month, we bring you the latest roundup of news from the fight for quality jobs for working people. More Americans work in retail than in manufacturing or mining. Over the last two weeks you’ve probably read a lot about big job losses in the retail sector, from Sears and Macy’s to Kmart and Urban Outfitters. According to Slate … Read More
PCV Receives Grant from Aspen Institute to Create Quality Jobs Toolkits for Retail Small Businesses
The Aspen Institute Economic Opportunities Program announced today that it has awarded a grant $200,000 to Pacific Community Ventures to take part in Reimagine Retail, a project made possible through a $5.5 million grant awarded by the Walmart Foundation to the Aspen Institute in 2016. Over a two-year period, Pacific Community Ventures will engage retail employers and explore strategies to improve job quality and support advancement for retail workers. Workforce development organizations, retail businesses, and other partners have potential to collaborate to improve the quality of jobs for workers in entry-level positions, create pathways for advancement in retail and related sectors, and increase employee engagement, productivity, and retention. To explore open questions about how to expand opportunities for working people, leaders in these fields will need to build capacity, experiment with new and innovative strategies, and learn from their experiences. Through Reimagine Retail, the Aspen Institute Economic Opportunities Program (EOP), … Read More
An Economy For Everyone: March Good Jobs Recap
In order to build wealth and create opportunities in and across America’s underserved communities, and reverse the troubling trends we’re seeing in our economy, we no longer find it defensible to focus on job creation alone. It’s clear that job creation does not itself equate to lasting economic change. And so, we must shift our focus to the creation of higher quality jobs — jobs that are good for workers and their families, good for businesses, and good for communities — enabling us to build an economy that works for everyone. Each month, we bring you the latest roundup of news from the fight for quality jobs for working people. What is the real state of working America? In 1900, factories and farms employed 60 percent of the work force. By 1950, a half-century later, those two sectors employed 36 percent. In 2014, they employed less than 10 percent. The … Read More
An Economy For Everyone: February Good Jobs Recap
In order to build wealth and create opportunities in and across America’s underserved communities, and reverse the troubling trends we’re seeing in our economy, we no longer find it defensible to focus on job creation alone. It’s clear that job creation does not itself equate to lasting economic change. And so, we must shift our focus to the creation of higher quality jobs — jobs that are good for workers and their families, good for businesses, and good for communities — enabling us to build an economy that works for everyone. Each month, we bring you the latest roundup of news from the fight for quality jobs for working people. It’s no secret that there are two ways to manage a company’s capital. Work for the short term and return your profits each quarter to shareholders and investors. Or, work for the long-term and reinvest your profits into your workers … Read More
An Economy For Everyone: Winter Good Jobs Recap
In order to build wealth and create opportunities in and across America’s underserved communities, and reverse the troubling trends we’re seeing in our economy, we no longer find it defensible to focus on job creation alone. It’s clear that job creation does not itself equate to lasting economic change. And so, we must shift our focus to the creation of higher quality jobs — jobs that are good for workers and their families, good for businesses, and good for communities — enabling us to build an economy that works for everyone. Each month, we bring you the latest roundup of news from the fight for quality jobs for working people. At the start of the new year, 19 states increased their minimum wages, lifting the pay of over 4.3 million workers. This is the largest number of states ever in a given year to increase their minimum wages absent … Read More
An Economy For Everyone: Monthly Good Jobs Recap
In order to build wealth and create opportunities in and across America’s underserved communities, and reverse the troubling trends we’re seeing in our economy, we no longer find it defensible to focus on job creation alone. It’s clear that job creation does not itself equate to lasting economic change. And so, we must shift our focus to the creation of higher quality jobs — jobs that are good for workers and their families, good for businesses, and good for communities — enabling us to build an economy that works for everyone. Each month, we bring you the latest roundup of news from the fight for quality jobs for working people. Right now there’s a mismatch between capital and the people with entrepreneurial drive and innovative ideas. When venture firms, banks, and the rest of the folks holding the money dole it out, they’re usually not spreading it around to … Read More
Get Ready For Small Business Saturday 2016
Now in its seventh year, Small Business Saturday serves as the kickoff to the holiday shopping season for small businesses across the United States. Each year, shoppers spend tens of billions at small businesses on the Saturday after Thanksgiving. Focusing on small businesses and local jobs directly combats income inequality. Small businesses create jobs — 70% of the jobs created since the end of the recession came from small businesses, as opposed to zero net new jobs from giant corporations. But simply creating jobs won’t stem the tide of income inequality. The kinds of jobs being created, and where those jobs drive their wealth, matters just as much. Our friends at Fit Small Business recently looked into why Small Business Saturday is so important for these job-creating community businesses: Over half (52%) of consumers plan to shop the weekend following Thanksgiving. 1 in 4 holiday shoppers (24%) are planning to “shop small” and … Read More