PA5512

This seminar explores the changing nature of the American job and the transformative forces—from corporate power and labor union decline to the rise of the ‘gig’ economy and even climate change—that have influenced this shift in recent decades and have added to growing economic insecurity. We will consider local and regional strategies for helping today’s workers withstand changing economic and environmental pressures, including: shoring up labor laws and wage protections; coordinating economic and workforce development initiatives; advancing forms of labor and community organizing that promote economic and environmental justice; using novel employer engagement tools to promote strong, safe, and opportunity-rich workplaces. This seminar will not only help you think through the policy and planning implications of U.S. labor market restructuring, but also consider how the forces behind this restructuring potentially affect your own career prospects.

prereq: Grad or instructor consent

000017