Millions of working people in the US do not have good jobs — jobs that offer livable wages, meaningful benefits, stable and predictable schedules, safe working conditions, and opportunities for growth. This job quality crisis demands urgent attention. While public policy can and should be an important part of the solution, we do not have to wait for lawmakers to act to begin tackling the issue. Leaders in business, workforce and economic development, organized labor, finance, local and state government, philanthropy, employee ownership, and civil and human rights organizations have the opportunity to make job quality improvement a decisive factor in how they operate, communicate, and evaluate their success. By stepping up and leading change, they can help build an economy that truly works for everyone — one where all jobs are good jobs and a fairer, more inclusive future is possible.
In this edition of our Job Quality Newsletter, we highlight leaders across a range of organizations who are championing job quality. First, learn how we describe job quality practice in our latest blog from our executive director, Maureen Conway. Meet a few of our past Job Quality Fellows — Adrian Esquivel, Sara Chester, and Saket Soni — who are leading the fight to improve jobs. Check out insights from business leaders, including Lewis Services’ Leslie Kass, on how employee ownership creates wealth and engagement, and Marlin Steel’s Drew Greenblatt, on how investing in workers, rather than cutting costs, drives business success and challenges conventional corporate thinking. Finally, we present a discussion on investing in front-line workers for your watch list.
We’re also excited to share that nominations are now open for a new cohort of our Job Quality Fellowship. This Fellowship brings together leaders from diverse fields who are committed to expanding access to good jobs. The 2025–26 Fellowship class will focus on job quality practitioners from the US South, and we encourage you to help us identify and uplift leaders in this region.
Let’s continue the work to develop leaders and practices that help shape a future where job quality isn’t just a goal — it’s the standard.
Leadership in Action
The Case for Creating a Job Quality Practice
In this new blog, I make the case for integrating job quality into economic and workforce development strategies, arguing that good jobs are essential for workers, thriving communities, and strong businesses. I highlight practical approaches — from supporting small businesses and employee ownership to policy advocacy and collective action — that organizations are using to improve job quality across the US.
➡️ Read “Good Jobs, Stronger Communities: The Case for Creating a Job Quality Practice,” here.
Meet Promising Job Quality Practitioners from Around the Country
Interested in learning more about leading job quality practitioners? Check out these profiles of leaders from our last class of Job Quality Fellows.
Want to learn how Adrian Esquivel at the Chicago Workforce Funder Alliance is centering workers in the workforce system? Read Adrian’s profile.
Sara Chester and her colleagues are using employee ownership to revitalize their local economy in North Carolina. Read Sara’s profile.
Saket Soni is organizing to improve their working conditions for the migrant workers who help rebuild communities after natural disasters. Read Saket’s profile.
➡️Check out this video on why job quality matters to our economy and society, explained by our first class of Job Quality Fellows.
Nominate a Fellow for the Job Quality Fellowship: Fixing Work in the South
At a time when leadership on job quality is so important, we are excited to announce nominations for the next Job Qualify Fellowship. This cohort of fellows will be recruited from the US South. Selected Fellows will work together from October 2025 to July 2026 to expand their networks and engage in peer learning, self-reflection, and strategic analysis that will support their work to improve job quality in the South.
➡️ Nominate yourself or a colleague for the Job Quality Fellowship.
Investing in Workers Pays Off
In this interview, Leslie Kass, CEO of Lewis Services, shares insights on how employee ownership drives worker empowerment, innovation, and long-term success. She discusses how Lewis Services, a 100% employee-owned company, creates wealth for its workers, fosters a culture of engagement, and navigates industry challenges.
➡️ Read the full interview to learn more, and check out this clip from the Employee Ownership Ideas Forum to hear Kass in conversation with Dion Houchins and moderator Mary Josephs.
Marlin Steel’s Smart Matrix for Job and Wage Growth
In this piece for the Washington Post, Steven Pearlstein spotlights Drew Greenblatt, the owner of Marlin Steel in Baltimore, who has transformed his small manufacturing company by investing in workers rather than cutting costs. His approach challenges the prevailing corporate mindset that prioritizes low wages and short-term gains, offering a compelling case for a more inclusive, value-driven model of capitalism.
➡️ Read the full article to learn more.
Beyond Great Places to Work: The Business Case for Investing in Front-Line Workers
In this event from 2014, featuring Greenblatt and Pearlstein in conversation with South Jordan Health Center’s David Owen and Zappos Insights’ Kelly Wolske, we hear insights from three companies from the Hitachi Foundation’s Pioneer Employers Initiative, which focuses on the business case for investing in front-line workers.
➡️ Watch the event recording to see how they boosted performance by creating quality jobs to help employees thrive.
Learn More
The Economic Opportunities Program advances strategies, policies, and ideas to help low- and moderate-income people thrive in a changing economy. Follow us on social media and join our mailing list to stay up-to-date on publications, blog posts, events, and other announcements.
