Local Labor Markets

Workers’ earnings depend on the health of the local labor market. Local economic policies can influence demand for workers by offering employers incentives—such as tax relief or customized job training—to hire locally, while education and job training programs can affect a local labor market’s supply of workers, both in quantity and quality.

Upjohn Institute research has examined both the demand and supply sides of local labor markets, with special attention to public policy and its effects on workers by race, income, and skill level.



All Research

Well-targeted job creation policies can improve employment rates in distressed communities

February 1, 2021 · Research Highlight
Research finds local employment rates increase three times as much if jobs are targeted at more-distressed local labor markets.

Measuring Local Job Distress

January 20, 2021 · Research

Rethinking Tax Incentives

January 13, 2021 · Research

5 Big Ideas in Inequality: Good Jobs - V

November 25, 2020 · Research

Have We Reached Foxconn Level 5?

October 13, 2020 · Research

Reforming Economic Development Incentives

October 13, 2020 · Research

Fiscal Impacts: A Literature Review

September 25, 2020 · Research

Agglomeration Economies: A Literature Review

September 25, 2020 · Research