In this episode of Data@Work, we sit down with Dr. Elizabeth Linos, the Emma Bloomberg Associate Professor for Public Policy and Management at the Harvard Kennedy School and Faculty Director of the People Lab. We dig into her research on reducing burnout and turnover in the public sector—and the surprisingly simple, low-cost intervention that's making a big difference for frontline workers.

We also explore what it really takes to get evidence-based practices adopted and scaled in government. If you’re passionate about using data and evidence to improve public service delivery and worker wellbeing, this discussion is full of insights for you.

Harvard People Lab: https://peoplelab.hks.harvard.edu/

RFA Job Quality Playbook: https://jobquality.results4america.org/

RFA Workforce Spending Guide: https://workforcespending.results4america.org/

RFA Results Network: https://resultsnetwork.results4america.org

In this episode of Data@Work, our guest Amanda Cage, President and CEO of the National Fund for Workforce Solutions explores the potential impacts of AI on the U.S. job market. Andrea and Amanda discuss AI's dual potential to perpetuate existing inequalities or to make jobs more accessible to everyone, particularly through improved career navigation systems. Should more government workforce agencies adopt AI, ensuring all workers can access quality jobs is imperative.

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Will artificial antelligence take away everyone’s jobs? This week we begin a mini-series to dispel myths and legends around what AI is and how it could benefit (and in some cases hinder) America’s workforce. Our first guest, Mary Olson is an Industry Executive Director at Oracle who taught us the basics of how workforce and education agencies might use AI as a tool to make government services more human-centered and equitable.

The good news? Mary says AI won’t take away everyone’s jobs—but it will change them. The bad news? AI isn’t going to solve all of our problems, and it will mainly support workers in accomplishing their work.

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Trainings and Resources Courtesy of Mary 

• Oracle University
• Oracle Academy
• Oracle Live Labs (AI and Machine Learning Hands-on Workshops)
• Oracle Cloud AI Services
• Oracle Cloud Generative AI Capabilities. 
• DeepLearning Short Courses 
• Introduction to Artificial Intelligence (Coursera)

Join Lee Hollis, Jr. with Results for America and Brooke Valle discuss the importance of Evidence-Based Procurement. In this episode, they unravel how data-driven decision-making and workforce strategies connect, exploring the real-world ways to aligning procurement processes with evidence-based approaches, expanding vendor engagement, and improving active contract management. Whether you're a policymaker, practitioner, or enthusiastic about workforce dynamics, this episode provides a comprehensive discussion on how evidence-based procurement practices are reshaping the trajectory of workforce development, fostering efficiency, and maximizing impact.

• Workforce Evidence-Based Spending Guide
• Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Kelsey speaks with Trenity Dobbey about the challenges and successes of launching an innovative re-entry and employment navigation program in Chicago for residents returning from incarceration. The program, called SPRING Forward, was funded by the American Rescue Plan which provided unique flexibility, allowing Chicago to break traditional workforce development molds and provide crucial wraparound housing services to program participants. Trenity is the Supervisor of Family and Support Programs for Workforce Development at Chicago’s Department of Family and Support Services 

• Good Jobs and Equity Project
•  Job Quality Playbook
•  Subscribe to Our Newsletter

In the latest episode of "Data at Work" from Results for America, host Kelsey Berkowitz delves into the complexities of supplier diversity goals in government jurisdictions. The episode features an insightful interview with Adrienne Chaillé, Senior Coordinator for Small Business in Washington County, Oregon's economic development program. Adrienne shares the challenges faced by project managers in meeting supplier diversity goals and highlights the county's innovative approach to address these issues. From assessing the supplier diversity landscape to engaging with the community and overcoming access to capital barriers, the episode offers a deep dive into Washington County's project as part of Results for America's Good Jobs and Equity Project.

Good Jobs and Equity Project: https://results4america.org/the-good-jobs-equity-project/

Job Quality Playbook: https://jobquality.results4america.org/

Our Newsletter: https://results-for-america.read.axioshq.com/signup/work-lab-update

Rachel Merfalen speaks with Ken Baker, CEO of NewAge Industries, about turning an entirely family-owned business into an employee-owned powerhouse that has made over 45 of its employees millionaires through its employee stock ownership plan.

You can lean more benefits of employee ownership, from fostering worker wealth to addressing wealth inequality on Results for America's Job Quality Playbook:

https://jobquality.results4america.org/opportunities/employee-ownership

Rachel Merfalen and Greg Brodsky of start.coop explore the transformative potential of cooperative ownership models for economic development and job quality. Diving into the world of employee ownership, they shed light on various models such as worker cooperatives, ESOPs, and employee ownership trusts, offering insights into how these structures empower both businesses and employees.

You can lean more benefits of employee ownership, from fostering job stability and quality to addressing wealth inequality on Results for America's Job Quality Playbook:

https://jobquality.results4america.org/opportunities/employee-ownership

In the first episode of our mini-series on employee ownership, we host Zen Trenholm and Rachel Merfalen to discuss the importance of employee ownership as a tool for economic development, job quality, and wealth creation in local communities. They delve into the various models of employee ownership, such as worker cooperatives, ESOPs, and employee ownership trusts, highlighting the positive impact on businesses and employees alike. They also explore how shared equity models can address challenges like business succession planning and job retention, and discuss recent policy initiatives and programs, such as the State Small Business Credit Initiative, that are supporting the growth of employee ownership ecosystems across the nation.

You can learn more about employee ownership and job quality at jobquality.results4america.org.