The rules of the economy

MIT Program Uses Tech to Create Fair Jobs and Money Access for All

MIT Solve runs a program called Economic Prosperity that helps people get better access to jobs and money through technology. They focus on helping people who are often left out of good opportunities. The program works on several challenges: 2.6 billion people don't have internet access, 1.4 billion people can't use banks, and 2 billion people work in jobs without official benefits. MIT Solve creates contests where teams compete to solve these problems using new technology like AI. They support solutions that help people get jobs, start businesses, access banking, and build wealth. Some examples include apps that help fishers sell their catch, platforms that train caregivers, tools that give people digital addresses to access services, and programs that help people with disabilities find work. The program especially focuses on helping women, people of color, and other groups that face extra barriers. Their goal is to use technology to make sure everyone can participate in and benefit from the economy, not just people who already have advantages.

New Research Shows How Skills and Jobs Are Changing

The Burning Glass Institute studies how work and education are changing in America. Their research shows that artificial intelligence (AI) is changing which skills workers need. They found that companies that hire based on skills instead of just college degrees can find better workers and pay them more, especially women and minority workers. The institute also studied college programs that help students succeed after graduation. Students who got extra support earned more money and advanced faster in their careers. The research shows that rural communities often get overlooked in workforce data, making it harder for them to get resources. The institute created new ways to measure which job training programs actually help people build careers, not just get higher wages right away. Their work helps educators, employers, and policymakers understand how to prepare workers for the future job market. All of this research is available to help communities make better decisions about education and workforce development.

How AI and Skills Are Changing Jobs: New Research Reports

The Burning Glass Institute studies how jobs and education are changing in America. They publish reports about important topics like artificial intelligence (AI), job skills, and college programs. Their recent research shows that AI is changing what skills workers need to learn. Some jobs now require deeper thinking skills to work with AI tools. The institute also found that many job training programs work better than we thought, especially when we look at long-term career growth, not just starting wages. They studied programs at Georgia State University and found that students who got extra support earned more money and got promoted faster after graduation. The research shows that companies are starting to hire people based on specific skills rather than just college degrees. This helps workers from all backgrounds, especially women and people of color, get better-paying jobs. The institute also found that rural communities need better data collection to show what jobs and training opportunities exist there. All of these reports help educators, employers, and policymakers make better decisions about job training and education programs.

How Arts Help Houston's Economy Grow

The Houston Arts Alliance takes part in a big national study called Arts & Economic Prosperity. This study looks at how arts and culture help the economy in 373 communities across all 50 states and Puerto Rico. The study shows how much money arts bring to different places, from small towns of 4,000 people to big cities with 4.7 million people. Houston has been part of both the 5th and 6th versions of this study. The research proves that arts and culture are important for local economies. People can visit the Houston Arts Alliance website to see the local study results for Houston. This information helps city leaders understand why supporting arts programs matters for the community's financial health.

Report: Which Cities Lead in Tech Skills and Jobs

The Burning Glass Institute and Wall Street Journal studied which American cities have the best tech workers and skills. They looked at over 65 million worker profiles to find 'Frontier Skills' - new tech abilities that pay well and are growing fast. The report ranks cities by how many workers have these important skills and which places are gaining tech jobs quickly. This helps city leaders understand if their workforce can compete for future tech jobs. Cities with more frontier skills and growing tech employment are better positioned for economic success. The study shows which cities are leading, which are rising, and which might fall behind in the tech economy. This research helps communities plan workforce development and economic strategies.