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PolicymakersFact Sheet Series

1575 Eye Street, NW, Suite 500 | Washington, D.C. 20005 | 202-371-1565 | www.cssp.org

JOBS,ECONOMIC GROWTH AND AN EDUCATED

WORKFORCE FOR THE FUTURE

Newly elected policymakers will be bombarded with information, reports and recommendations but

in difficult economic times, elected officials need proven, cost-effective approaches that improve the

lives of children and families. The Center for the Study of Social Policy has developed a series of

policy briefs designed to help newly elected state policymakers carry out their new responsibilities

more effectively in the current economic climate. The Policymakers Fact Sheet Series provides

research-based, budget conscious strategies in the context of sluggish tax revenues and a safety net

strained by the newly unemployed. These briefs concentrate on how to set a states economy in the

right direction, now and for the future, through responsible investments in family economic success,

healthy child development, education and training, with an emphasis on policies that are economical

or supported through federal funding.

Given the recession, there is an urgent need for a dual focus on helping the economy recover and

making sure that families have jobs that promote their stability and future. A new vision of

opportunity for families requires systems and supports that produce measurable, scaleable andsustainable impacts. This has been brought into sharp relief by the soaring job losses and the

widespread economic hardships experienced in the last two years. Many job seekers do not have the

skills sought by employers, and the gap will continue to grow to a projected 4 to 8 million jobs that

cannot be filled by the current labor force. More than 40 million people now receive food stamps, anincrease of nearly 50 percent since 2007, and economists predict that 1 in 4 children will be living in

poverty by 2012. The brunt of this

economic devastation is beingborne by less educated families and

single mothers. They have suffered

the greatest and most persistent joblosses, plunging formerly working,

self-sufficient families into

poverty.

Forging a policy agenda to rebuilda states economic health demandsinvesting in two generations:

working parents and their children.

Safeguarding economic success

into the future requires proving thecurrent workforce with the skills

they need to increase their

employability, while promotingopportunities for the healthy development and education of their children. To accomplish this,

researchsupports a strategy that focuses on three interlinked priorities: education, employment and

reducing barriers to jobs. Preparing the next generation of workers requires a cross-cuttingapproach that stresses reducing unplanned pregnancies to providing high quality early care and

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1575 Eye Street N.W., Suite 500 | Washington D.C. 20005 | 202-371-1565 | www.cssp.org

education and home visiting services, assuring grade level reading and creating pathways to post-

secondary education and jobs, focusing on vulnerable populations and strengthening families.

The 2010 elections bring historic changes in government and a window of opportunity to reshapepublic policy, focus on critical issues and achieve results for children and families. This series

provides guidance to state policymakers that is grounded in research and based on todays economicrealities. The series presents a range of proven, cost-effective policy approaches that relies on thefollowing principles:

Protect the most vulnerable. Recessions sharply increase unemployment, homelessness andhunger. Funding benefits and services for people who need them most not only minimizes humansuffering but also reduces future costs to the state.

Focus on results. Focusing on measurable results can help set priorities and guide decisionsabout the best use of scarce resources.

Maximize return on investment over the short- and long-term. Especially when money istight, it pays to invest in cost-effective services, programs and policies that provide immediate

benefits for children and families and that keep paying as children grow into productive adults.

Stimulate the economy by investing in children and families. Providing financial support tostruggling families who will immediately spend it on necessities both quickly injects money into

the economy and benefits those most likely to be hurt by the economic downturn.

Strengthen community resources. In times of hardship, many people turn to extended families,neighbors, faith groups, local food banks and other community resources. By investing in local

assets, policymakers can strengthen neighborhoods, spur local innovation and problem-solving

and tap the capacity of communities to prevent the need for more extensive assistance.

Seize the opportunity for reform. When budgets are tight, it is easier to develop politicalconsensus to eliminate well-intentioned but ineffective programs that do not help vulnerablechildren and families. Tough times provide impetus for changing the way decisions are made and

for building the capacity to make effective financing, budgeting and policy choices.

Visitpolicyforresults.orgfor assistance, more information, state data, research and resources.

Policyforresults.orgis a non-partisan, nonprofit resource for state policymakers.

http://www.policyforresults.org/http://www.policyforresults.org/http://www.policyforresults.org/http://www.policyforresults.org/http://www.policyforresults.org/http://www.policyforresults.org/http://www.policyforresults.org/