Report Examines Flow of Jobs and Workers

This report from The Brookings Institution examined census data for the largest 150 municipalities in the U.S. to determine if and how jobs follow rising populations of workers, and what cities can do to increase access to jobs and workers.

1 minute read

January 9, 2008, 10:00 AM PST

By Nate Berg

The report's findings include:

"Roughly 65 percent of all residents and nearly 60 percent of all jobs are now located in the suburbs, with over a third of each in the higher-income suburbs."

"Population grew strongly during the 1990s in the lower-income suburbs, while job growth was particularly strong in the higher-income suburbs. Residential populations grew by 36 percent in lower-income suburbs, compared to just 24 percent in the central cities and 16 percent in the higher-income suburbs; while employment growth was more rapid (at 26 percent) in the higher-income suburbs, than in the central cities and lower-income suburbs (18 percent each)."

"Population growth in the lower-income suburbs for blacks and Latinos has been especially dramatic, while their employment growth in these areas lags behind."

"These findings suggest that local labor market policy should better maximize access to good jobs and skill-building opportunities for all workers throughout the metropolitan area. Employer access to potential workers should be enhanced as well, regardless of where the workers and the jobs are located."

FULL STORY: Where Workers Go, Do Jobs Follow?

Monday, December 31, 2007 in The Brookings Institution

Education & Careers Social / Demographics United States

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