Skip to content
Subscribe Donate
Practices & Centers

Workforce & Regional Economies

Workforce & Regional Economies

Building capacity and shaping practices to help more people and communities succeed.
Contact us to learn more
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
Blog When 'Life' Becomes a Barrier to Success in Tech, Support Services Can Help
Implementing inclusive, robust support services into training programs can lead to more positive outcomes for learners, like higher employment rates post-completion.
Blog Making Quality Jobs a Reality for Millions More Workers
JFF’s Quality Jobs Framework outlines actions that can transform employer practices—and the entire learn and work ecosystem—to give all workers what they deserve, beyond just a living wage.
Blog Co-Creating a Future-Focused Workforce System: JFF’s Workforce Transformation Strategy
The U.S. public workforce system is at a tipping point. See our comprehensive strategy for activating workforce leaders in a sustained effort of co-designed transformation of our system, culture, and practices.
Featured Projects

Public Sector Digital Jobs Innovation Project

JFF launched a project with funding from Google.org to support public-sector organizations in developing a comprehensive digital jobs strategy to support on-ramps to high-quality technology careers for individuals currently underrepresented in the sector, including women, Black workers, Latinx workers, and Indigenous workers.

Learn more

High Road Training Fund

JFF, in partnership with the California Workforce Development Board, the California Labor and Workforce Development Agency, and the California Governor’s Office of Social Innovation, launched the High Road Training Fund to advance the state’s vision for economic equity, job quality, and climate resilience.

Learn more

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.

 

 

Learn more
Impact Stories
Expanding On-Ramps to Tech Careers Through College, Nonprofit, and Public Sector Partnerships
JFF joins with Google to train adults for high-growth, high-demand careers that pay living wages in today's digital economy.
Tech-Enabled Workforce Boards Drive Innovation in Their Communities
Future-focused workforce boards are embracing new tools that are increasing equity and access.
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.
Team
Tameshia Bridges Mansfield, Vice President
Tameshia Bridges Mansfield is vice president of the Workforce & Regional Economies practice at JFF. She oversees solutions to transform the public workforce system, develop inclusive regional economies, and create sector partnerships in high-growth industries.
Josh Copus, Senior Director
Josh Copus is a senior director in the Workforce & Regional Economies practice at JFF. He focuses on use of data and new technologies to develop strategies for JFF to lead workforce systems as they prepare for the future of work.
Sara Lamback, Senior Director
Sara Lamback is a senior director in the Workforce & Regional Economies practice at JFF. She provides leadership, labor market analysis, and technical assistance on projects that help adults with low incomes train for and succeed in jobs with career advancement potential.
Nancy Park, Director
Nancy Park is a director in the Workforce & Regional Economies practice at JFF. She builds go-to-market strategies focused on replicating proven solutions in regional contexts, tailoring national practices to local needs or scaling effective local programs at the national level.
Learn more
The Workforce & Regional Economies practice at Jobs for the Future and our network of expert partners are available to help engage stakeholders locally, regionally, and nationally, design and pilot sector-based solutions, identify and support development of quality jobs, and more. Contact us to learn more about how you can partner with us or support our work, and subscribe for updates.
Contact us Subscribe