Shift Work Forward

06/17/2026

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Shift Work Forward's newsletters cover learning opportunities, conference updates, new resources, and the conversations driving real change in workforce systems across the country.

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06/16/2026

New Mexico is making childcare more affordable and accessible through public policy. That's a meaningful step forward.

And it raises an important next question: where will the workers come from to meet the growing demand?

Expanding access for families and building a strong childcare workforce have to happen together. That means improving job quality, supporting providers, and creating real career pathways in the field.

Access and workforce go hand in hand.

Read more:

In New Mexico, a bold childcare plan is meeting hard reality. But it’s not too late to fix things.

06/16/2026

San Diego County has nearly 90,000 fewer women in its workforce than cities like Minneapolis. Childcare access is a major reason why.

On the latest episode of State of Our Workforce, economist Daniel Enemark breaks down what affordable childcare actually means for a regional economy. More workforce participation. Stronger long-term growth. Better outcomes for kids.

When families can't access affordable childcare, workers stay on the sidelines. And regional economies pay the price.

Listen to the full episode here: https://shiftworkforward.org/podcasts/building-an-economy-where-workers-thrive/

06/15/2026

Employers, this one is for you.

At SHIFT 2026, we're hosting a special half-day session called "Designing Better Workplaces and Better Business." It's a hands-on, four-hour workshop built around one idea: improving job quality is good for workers and good for business.

Shift Work Forward has partnered with dozens of companies to strengthen retention, performance, and employee engagement. This session brings those lessons into the room with you.

You'll work through human-centered design approaches to real workplace challenges and walk away with practical tools you can actually use.

If you want to build a stronger, more engaged workforce, this is the session to be in.

Learn more:

Shift Work Forward has partnered with dozens of companies to improve job quality while also strengthening retention, performance, and overall business outcomes. This highly interactive, four-hour session is designed for employers and businesses, bringing together leaders and innovators to explore ho...

06/15/2026

The headline jobs number can make the labor market look healthier than it actually is.

Behind that number are workers who have stopped looking altogether. Others piecing together part-time jobs that don't add up to stability. Communities where employment gaps run deep.

If we want an economy that works for everyone, we have to pay attention to what the headline misses.

Read more:

The May 2026 jobs report shows continued job growth and a stable unemployment rate, but there are also signs that labor market weakness—including labor underutilization—is being felt by a growing number of Americans.

06/12/2026

AI is going to change work. That's settled. The real question is who gets a say in how.

Manufacturing has been living with this question longer than most industries, and the lessons are worth paying attention to. When workers are part of the process of adopting new technology, the outcomes tend to be better for everyone. When they're left out, the benefits flow in one direction.

That dynamic will play out across every sector. Now is the time to get it right. Read more from National Skills Coalition.

State and federal policymakers are eager to understand how automation and artificial intelligence (AI) will affect the US labor market in the years to come. But predictions are tricky, and […]

06/11/2026

The challenges facing today's workers and employers are too big for small adjustments.

This moment calls for bold thinking, new policies, and real collaboration across sectors. That's exactly what we're building toward at in Albuquerque this fall.

Business leaders, workforce practitioners, policymakers, funders, labor organizations, and educators will come together to share what's working, build partnerships, and co-create solutions that benefit workers, employers, and communities.

If you're serious about changing how work works, we want you there. Register now.
https://shiftworkforward.org/about/events/shift-conference/pricing-and-registration/

06/11/2026

SHIFT Conference isn't built around talking points. It's built around the real challenges shaping today's workforce.

This fall in Albuquerque, main stage conversations will take on the biggest issues in the field. Workshop sessions will go deep on structural barriers like childcare and transportation, pathways to economic mobility for underrepresented workers, and what it truly means to share power with workers in decision-making.

Get a preview of the sessions we're planning and then register for . We'd love to see you there.

Back to all events SHIFT Conference 2026 Sessions Eyebrow What to Expect at SHIFT Conference Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet consectetur. Facilisis mattis odio egestas eu penatibus amet sollicitudin. At SHIFT Conference, you can expect content that reflects the real challenges and opportunities shaping t...

06/10/2026

For a lot of workers, doing everything right still isn't enough.

This USA Today piece captures a widening gap between what younger workers were promised and what they're actually experiencing. Financial security feels further away even for people working hard to reach it.

That's a structural problem. And it's one that expanding access to good jobs and real pathways to career mobility can start to address. A stronger economy depends on it. Read more.

Are deep-pocketed baby boomers propping up the economy by helping their children financially?

06/10/2026

Childcare workers make it possible for everyone else to go to work. So why are their jobs so hard to hold onto?

That's the challenge at the heart of Shift Work Forward's Shifting the Childcare Industry initiative. And it's one that the United Way of Central Iowa has been tackling head-on.

By partnering directly with childcare educators to shape workplace improvements, they achieved real results: wage gains, stronger retention, and more stable providers. Join us on June 16th to hear what they did and what other communities can learn from it.

June 16, 2026 | 1:00 - 2:00 p.m. Eastern
Register here: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/6217804929981/WN_SQeApfQnT-Sp8HhKOO__uw