Since the late 1980s, declines in defense spending have resulted in dramatic employment reductions in defense-related sectors of the economy. Although considerable information exists on the fate of major defense contractors and military bases in New England, little is known about what has...

The combination of very low unemployment rates and somewhat limited wage and salary pressures has called into question our ability to measure labor market tightness. One issue is the extent to which labor availability is understated, given the existence of people who are not actively looking for...

A consensus appears to be building that the extensive structural changes taking place in the U.S. economy warrant the expansion of government programs to assist displaced workers. Training in particular is seen as a vital part of the adjustment process. Although the "problem" is real, findings...

A common complaint of businesses nationwide is that they have not been able to hire as many highly educated workers as they would like to employ, resulting in unfilled vacancies in professional and technical positions. Regardless of the traditional relationships between employers and nearby...

During the twentieth century, the United States was a world leader in raising the educational attainment of its population. This important achievement contributed to national productivity growth and extended economic opportunity to formerly disadvantaged groups in society. Now, at the beginning...

In 2008, the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston began a project to help reinvigorate the city of Springfield, Massachusetts. This cross-departmental initiative uses the Boston Fed's research and convening capabilities to complement the efforts of other organizations dedicated to improving economic...