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Mitnik, P., and M. Zeidenberg. From Bad to Good Jobs? An Analysis of the Prospects for Career Ladders in the Service Industries. COWS, 2007.
Pablo Mitnik and Matt Zeidenberg discuss the various assumptions that are embedded in career ladder strategies, and investigates the extent to which the very structure of specific service industries may stand in the way of building advancement. The report provides careful analysis of upward and downward mobility within specific industries, and considers the systematic prospects of career ladder strategies.
Stronger Ladders, Stonger Floors: The Need for Both Supply and Demand Strategies to Improve Workers’ Opportunities by Laura Dresser uses data from Mitnik and Zeidenberg to explore issues about building career ladders. The report provides some data to help direct and focus career ladder development, and includes discussion of the need for both supply and demand side strategies when improving jobs.Document -
, C. Black Wisconsinites and Economic Opportunity. COWS, 2007.
Many economic indicators—from poverty to incarceration—show dismal outcomes for Wisconsin’s African Americans. The vitality of our economy, the prosperity of our state, and the health and well-being of all our communities are seriously threatened by the racial disparity that plagues Wisconsin.
This COWS Spotlight Issue provides background data and indicators showing pervasive black/white inequality in the state.
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Dahlk, K. Back to Basics: Strengthening Adult Basic Education in Wisconsin. COWS, 2006.
COWS highlights the importance of workers’ basic skills to Wisconsin’s economic health, and suggests ways for improving basic skills education in the state.
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Dresser, L., and J. Rogers. The State of Working Wisconsin 2006. COWS, 2006.
COWS releases The State of Working Wisconsin every two years, in conjunction with the release of The State of Working America by the Economic Policy Institute.
2006 marks the 10th year of the publication and the expansion of the report to include ‘COWS Issue Spotlights’ highlighting key Wisconsin topics such as health care and pension benefits, the trap of low wage jobs, and Wisconsin’s energy use. In addition, the report features ‘Fast Facts,’ making it easier for readers to quickly access key state statistics.
Documents include both Full Report and Executive Summary.
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COWS’ report profiles key economic and demographic trends in the vital SWSC (Southwest & South Central) corner of Wisconsin. It provides the background data needed to better understand the dynamics of the region, and suggests some important ways, given these data, to improve worker skills, firm productivity, economic development, and long-term planning in SWSC.
Seeds of Workforce Change represents a collaborative effort to align and strengthen economic and workforce development systems in the region. The report was produced by COWS, with the input of many key stakeholders in the region, for the Workforce Development Boards of South Central and Southwest Wisconsin. It was made possible by a grant from Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development as part of Governor Jim Doyle’s “Growing Regional Opportunities in Wisconsin” (GROW) initiative.
Documents provided include Full Report and Executive Summary.
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, C. Wisconsin Minimum Wage Facts: Minimum Wage $6.50/Hour As of June 1. COWS, 2006.
On June 1, 2006, Wisconsin’s minimum wage rose to $6.50 an hour. This was the second of a two-step increase that began on June 1, 2005, when the state minimum wage was increased from the federal minimum of $5.15 an hour to $5.70 an hour.
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Luria, D., and J. Rogers. Babies, Bathwater, and American Manufacturing: What’s Worth Saving and How. COWS, 2006.
Research has suggested that certain manufacturing sectors should be “saved” over other sectors with respect to changes within international competitive markets. The authors report on Sustained Advanced Manufacturing.
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,. Pulling Apart: Wisconsin’s Growing Income Inequality. COWS, 2006.Document
While Wisconsin has a history of a relatively high level of equality, the past two decades have continuously resulted in greater wealth disparities. Wisconsin legislators need to focus on maintaining the high level of economic equality seen in previous decades by building the skills and education of Wisconsin’s workforce.
COWS and Wisconsin Council on Children & Families report Pulling Apart: Wisconsin’s Growing Income Inequality is based on Pulling Apart, a State-by-State Analysis of Income Trends published by the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities and the Economic Policy Institute.
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Dresser, L. When Work Doesn’t Pay: The Hidden Cost of Low-Wage Jobs. COWS, 2006.
COWS takes a close look at the “hidden public costs” of low wage jobs and reveals that many working families do not earn sufficient wages and benefits to care for their families.
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DocumentRogers, J., L. Dresser, M. Vidal, and H. Wial. “‘Full-Utilization Learning Lean’ In Component Manufacturing: A New Industrial Model for Mature Regions, and Labor’s Stake in Its Success”. Number WP-2006-03, Sloan Industry Studies Working Papers, 2006.