Workforce & Regional Economies
National, regional, and local practices for equitable economic advancement.
Our workforce and regional economic development systems have the potential to promote strong economies and expand access to quality jobs. But they haven’t placed the needs of workers and communities at the center.
The Workforce & Regional Economies practice at Jobs for the Future promotes transformation of the public workforce system, supports development of inclusive regional economies that center worker needs, creates sector partnerships in high-growth industries, and brings innovation to scale at the local level. We help our partners build capacity, respond to stakeholder needs, and contribute to a strong regional economy.
Key Initiatives
Workforce Transformation
We design, scale, influence, and invest in public workforce system transformation that maximizes public and private investments, now and into the future.
Inclusive Regional Economic Development
We create place-based strategies, anchored in California, to advance economic opportunity, emphasizing cross-sector networks and a commitment to DEI.
Sector Strategies and Partnerships
We promote sector strategies that center equity and inclusion and establish training and credential programs that align quality jobs with employer demand.
Job Quality
We work to advance quality jobs to secure what all workers deserve—not just a living wage and benefits but also stability, flexibility, autonomy, and equitable economic advancement.
Localization
We build, test, and implement localized strategies enabling regions to go to market with proven solutions.
News & Ideas
Quality Jobs Framework
JFF’s framework spells out new standards for quality jobs and actions we can all take to improve job quality—and ultimately help millions more people advance in the economy. How to use this framework: Explore the…
Jobs for the Future Is Building an Inclusive Digital Jobs Strategy
The current labor market has high demand for digital skills across all industries and businesses, regardless of size. Though digital jobs are growing and are typically quality jobs, women of all racial backgrounds, Black, Latinx,…
Featured Projects
Rural Immigrant Success Exchange
JFF, Ascendium, and the World Education Services Mariam Assefa Fund have embarked on an ambitious two-year initiative to break down barriers to economic advancement for immigrants, refugees, and migrant workers in rural communities.
Rework America Alliance
The Rework America Alliance is a unique partnership of civil rights organizations, nonprofits, private sector employers, labor unions, educators, and others working to help millions of workers in low-wage roles move into better jobs that offer living wages and benefits.
Good Jobs Community of Practice
JFF is leading a national community of practice for 32 coalitions working to expand access to quality jobs in the U.S. Economic Development Administration’s $500 million Good Jobs Challenge.
Impact Stories
Tech-Enabled Workforce Boards Drive Innovation in Their Communities
In this story, we explore how the Future of Work Grand Challenge reversed the dynamic of workforce boards playing catch-up and reacting to technological changes by creating an opportunity, in the midst of a generational…
Inclusive Regional Economic Development
JFF designs place-based strategies to advance economic opportunity through activation of cross-sector networks and an unwavering commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion. JFF designs place-based strategies to advance economic opportunity through activation of cross-sector networks…
Helping Google Grow and Diversify the IT Workforce
When Google wanted to grow the IT workforce by providing accessible training opportunities to a broader pool of candidates, the company asked JFF to help scale its skills-based certificate programs to meet booming demand. Next…
Team
Tameshia Bridges Mansfield
Vice PresidentTameshia Bridges Mansfield is vice president of the Workforce & Regional Economies practice at JFF. She leads work focused on advancing transformative and equitable systems change solutions in workforce and economic development. She does this with…
Molly Blankenship
DirectorMolly Blankenship is a director in Solutions Design & Delivery at JFF. She leads a diverse portfolio of projects dedicated to fostering equitable economic advancement for all, with a current focus on enhancing job quality and…
William Turner
Associate Vice PresidentWilliam Turner is an associate vice president in the Workforce & Regional Economies Practice at JFF. He leads the integration of the Rework America Alliance and JFF. His skills and areas of expertise include: Leadership…
Parina Parikh
Associate Vice PresidentParina Parikh is an associate vice president in the Workforce & Regional Economies practice at JFF. She leads JFF’s presence in California, with responsibility for business development and fundraising, cultivating relationships and partnerships, and building…
Josh Copus
Senior DirectorJosh Copus is a senior director in JFF’s Workforce & Regional Economies practice, where he develops strategies for JFF to lead workforce systems as they prepare for the future of work. He was previously an…
Sara Lamback
Senior DirectorSara Lamback is a senior director in the Workforce & Regional Economies practice at JFF. She provides project leadership and strategy on a range of initiatives that strengthen pathways to high-demand careers. Her work integrates…
Nancy Park
DirectorNancy Park is a director in the Workforce & Regional Economies practice at JFF. She is responsible for building go-to-market strategies focused on replicating proven solutions in regional contexts by tailoring national practices to local…
Jen Horton
Senior DirectorJen Horton is a senior director in the Workforce & Regional Economies practice at JFF. She oversees federal and state funding opportunities supporting strong regional economies that expand access to quality jobs. Her skills and…