Making Better Work

In this episode, our host, Kristin Wolff, talks with Paul Nissen and Vladimir Bassis. Paula is the Lead Education Program Consultant for Community College Management Information System (CC MIS) within the Iowa Department of Education; and her colleague, Vlad, has worked on data and analysis for the Iowa Departments of Human Services and Education for over 13 years. The two are colleagues and co-conspirators on Iowa’s education and workforce longitudinal data systems, supported in part by a US Department of Labor (WDIQ) grant.   They are relentless optimists in their assessment of where data integration is going and how it can help public and private sectors leaders, as well as individuals students and workers, make better decisions about their futures. That – and Sankey charts. See? Now you’ve got to have a listen.   For more information: · All things Iowa data and reporting: https://educateiowa.gov/data-and-reporting · What is a Sankey? https://www.ifu.com/en/e-sankey/sankey-diagram/ · Iowa’s famous Sankey (

In this episode, our host Kristin Wolff talks with Dr. Greg Weeks, consultant researcher, professor, and former Director of Washington State’s Labor Market Information system. Greg has authored numerous papers looking at the returns to STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math) – the labor market outcomes of workers with credentials in STEM skills, using WA’s longitudinal data system. (Spoiler alert: the returns are not particularly equitable across demographic groups). He’s also conducting research on the size and nature of non-standard employment (e.g. the “gig” economy) and has much to share about how longitudinal data can help us better understand how our labor markets work.   Enjoy!   For more information: * Education Research and Date Center (ERDC): https://erdc.wa.gov/ * Returns to STEM Research: https://erdc.wa.gov/publications/economic-returns * MEF & Associates (Gig Economy research): https://mefassociates.com/our-work/ * Find Greg LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/greg-weeks-ph-d-8195761

In this episode, our host Kristin Wolff talks with Amelia Roberts and Robert Kalaskowsi. Amelia is the Data and Performance Manager for the Governor’s Workforce Board of Rhode Island (GWB) and Robert is the Assistant Chief of Policy and Planning with the RI Governor’s Workforce Board. The two of the them lead the team working on Rhode Island’s effort to build a longitudinal data system for workforce data under the US Department of Labor’s Workforce Data Quality Initiative (WDQI).   Both share their insights on data, data sharing, responsible use, and governance – one of the most important topics in the public data universe. They offer a refreshingly honest and nuanced assessment of the challenges and rewards of linking data across agencies and using it to inform important research and policy questions.   Surprise research findings? Longtail of demand? Data stories than win hearts and change minds?   Have a listen!   For more information: * Governor’s Workforce Board: https://gwb.ri.gov/ * Workforce performanc

In this episode, our host Kristin Wolff talks with Josh Copus, Entrepreneur in residence at Jobs for the Future, a nonprofit organization dedicated to aligning and improving education and workforce systems and services so that everyone can access economic opportunity. Josh works in the part of JFF that’s about innovation – JFF Labs, where he leads an initiative called AWAKE, the Advanced Workforce and Analytics Knowledge Exchange.   There’s a lot here. Enjoy it.   For more information: * Jobs for the Future: https://www.jff.org/ * JFF Labs: https://www.jff.org/points-of-view/lab-moonshot-our-time/ * JFF Labs AWAKE Initiative: https://www.jff.org/points-of-view/national-association-workforce-boards-and-jff-announce-new-awake-initiative/; https://www.jff.org/what-we-do/impact-stories/awake/ Social: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joshcopus/ https://www.facebook.com/jobsforthefuture/ https://twitter.com/jfftweets   Disclaimer: This podcast was produced by Social Policy Research and Workforce 180 with support from th

In this episode, our host Kristin Wolff talks with Dr. Kate Akers, who, after having guided the development of KY’s education and workforce data efforts for six years, and leading the evolution of the state’s P20W Data Collaborative project into what is now the KY Center for Statistics, will be heading to Harrisburg, PA to become the new Assistant Vice Chancellor for Education and Business Intelligence with the PA State System of Higher Education. When KY, a partner in the US Department of Labor’s Workforce Data Quality Initiative (WDQI), launched its longitudinal data effort, it wanted to improve research and policy. Building on what had been a strong data culture, KY’s education and workforce stakeholders wanted to move beyond just counting. Less than a decade later, a suite of report cards, dashboards, and a slate of ongoing research products and questions were in play, and Kate and her team were travelling across the state helping people understand what data was available and how to use it to make better

In this episode, our host Kristin Wolff talks with Fran Valentine and Diana Barrett, from Indiana’s workforce data team. Fran is the Senior Director of Research, Analysis & Engagement at the Indiana Department of Workforce Development, and Diana is her colleague and the Assistant Director at the Department.   We learn about how the State of Indiana, as a partner in the US Department of Labor’s Workforce Data Quality Initiative (WDQI), is working with Indiana University and others to link data that helps us better understand how our education systems and labor markets work, and improve policy and programs designed to help Indiana students, workers, and firms as a result.   For more information: * Indiana’s WDQI Effort: http://www.hoosierdata.in.gov/wdqi/Default.asp * Occupation Assignment Engine: http://www.hoosierdata.in.gov/wdqi/occupation-assignment.asp * Documentation and emerging models: http://www.hoosierdata.in.gov/wdqi/knowledge-transfer.asp * Indiana Business Research Center: https://ibrc.kelley.i