Workforce Policy
The Joint Center’s Workforce Policy Program centers Black workers in policy debates concerning the future of work, workforce development, and access to good jobs.
The workforce policy program is about the future of Black workers.
January 2026 Jobs Day Analysis
The Joint Center analyzes unemployment data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics and shows how these numbers affect Black workers. Our January Jobs Day analysis is below. In January, the unemployment rate…
Joint Center Joins Howard University Panel ‘Reimagining Public Education, Part II: Policy, Power and the Future of HBCUs’
Joint Center Workforce Policy Director Dr. Kayla Elliott joined a distinguished panel, “Reimagining Public Education, Part II: Policy, Power and the Future of HBCUs,” with higher education and policy leaders at…
Joint Center Appeared on The Breakdown with Brittany Noble on Rising Black Unemployment
Joint Center Senior Policy Analyst Dr. Gabrielle Smith Finnie appeared on The Breakdown with Brittany Nobel to discuss the Joint Center’s 2025 unemployment analysis of the Bureau of Labor Statistics…
Joint Center 2025 Jobs Day Analysis Featured in New York Amsterdam News
Joint Center Senior Policy Analyst Dr. Gabrielle Smith Finnie was featured in the New York Amsterdam News in an article on the Joint Center’s 2025 Jobs Day analysis on Black…
Joint Center Appeared on the Roland Martin Unfiltered Daily Digital Show
Joint Center Senior Policy Analyst Dr. Gabrielle Smith Finnie appeared on Roland Martin’s Unfiltered Daily Digital Show to discuss the Joint Center’s 2025 unemployment analysis of the Bureau of Labor…
2025 Jobs Day Analysis
The Joint Center analyzes unemployment data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics and shows how these numbers affect Black workers. Our 2025 Jobs Day analysis is below. In 2025, Black workers experienced high…
Joint Center Mentioned in the 19th on Unemployment Rate
Joint Center Senior Fellow Jessica Fulton was mentioned in an article by the 19th on rising unemployment rate for Black women. From the article: “Black women also suffered job loss…
Joint Center Featured in Public News Service on Black Unemployment
Joint Center Workforce Policy Director Dr. Kayla Elliott was quoted in a Public News Service article on the state of Black unemployment and workforce policy. The piece highlights Workforce Pell…
Joint Center Releases State of the Dream 2026 Report on Black Economic Regression in Honor of Dr. Martin Luther King’s Birthday
UPDATED FEBRUARY 24, 2026 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Dec. 19, 2025 Contact: Kennedy Fortner, kennedy.fortner@jointcenter.org Joint Center Releases State of the Dream 2026 Report on Black Economic Regression in Honor of Dr. Martin Luther King’s Birthday New report…
State of the Dream 2026: From Regression to Signs of a Black Recession
State of the Dream 2026: From Regression to Signs of a Black Recession is the product of a collaborative effort drawing on the expertise of Joint Center staff, fellows, and…