Workplace Economics

The final paper for this course is an analysis of a current workforce development issue that is impacting a community. You have some flexibility choose the focus area of the paper. It involves external research (including a literature review) as well as primary research in the form of examining available quantitative data on the community youve chosen (see “Data” section below) as well as interview data of a community college leader and/or workforce or economic development leader in the area.

The paper should be between 8 to 12 pages long and is worth up to 50 points.

Structure and Components of Final Project

• Background and Problem Statement: Describe the community context and community college(s) youre focusing on your paper. What is the specific workforce problem youve identified? How do you know its a problem? Consider issues of talent development, equity, and future of work trends when researching and diagnosing the problem.
• Literature Review: What do we know about that problem from the literature and other contexts?
• Theory: Identify at least one theoretical framework that can be used to better understand, diagnose, and/or address the problem.
• Methods: Identify data you analyzed to examine the problem and describe how you analyzed that data. (See “Data” section below.) At least two distinct data visualizations must be included in paper pertaining to the workforce problem of practice youve identified.
• Findings
• What is working? Identify at least two things that you would consider strengths or opportunities for addressing the workforce problem of practice that are already apparent. Also consider trends, both current and those projected into the future.
• What is not working well? List at least two things that you would consider weaknesses or threats that make addressing the workforce problem of practice challenging. Also consider trends, both current and those projected into the future.
• Funding opportunities: What funding opportunities through federal, state, or local policies are in place now that already support or may support addressing the workforce-related problem of practice youve identified?
• Policy and Practice Recommendations:
• What organizational or leadership practices do you recommend the community college should engage in to help address the problem and support an equitable and inclusive workforce solution? (Use theory, research, and data to back up claims and suggestions.)
• Based on your research, what impact might AI have on this problem of practice? How could AI be used to address it?
• What policies do you recommend should be advocated for that would benefit the communitys workforce and economic development? What policies would advance equitable and inclusive workforce development? (Use theory, research, and data to back up claims and suggestions.)
• Based on your research on this topic, what are some relevant questions that community college leaders need to ask as it relates to the new Workforce Pell legislation?

Data

Access to quality data is critical for this course. Thanks to (a company formerly known as EMSI Burning Glass and leader in labor market analytics), we have spreadsheets containing data on occupations and academic program data for four industries (healthcare, information technology, manufacturing, and construction) within three statistical metropolitan areas (Chicago, Boston, and Washington D.C.). Those files can be downloaded through the links below.