Washington, D.C. — Good-quality jobs that invest in employer training, and improve work conditions lead to higher productivity, lower operational costs, and less turnover, ultimately boosting firms’ profitability and broadening economic growth. A new Center for American Progress report examines how two actionable components that make up good jobs—worker training and working conditions, including protections against sexual harassment—benefit employers and businesses, all while benefiting workers.
Worker training and worker safety are often underappreciated ways to boost productivity and job quality. Employers that invest in on-the-job employer-provided training have the opportunity to design training specific to their own organization’s needs and goals. This helps employees have access to quality, individualized training that can improve productivity, decrease absenteeism and turnover, encourage greater innovation, and lead to higher profits for the business.
To bolster good jobs, this report calls for the following recommendations for employers: 1) provide better employer-based training programs and more connections to primary, secondary, and apprenticeship programs; 2) strengthen sexual harassment prevention methods by following both the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) recommendations and the White House “U.S. National Plan to End Gender-Based Violence”; and 3) strengthen physical safety protections to prevent work-based injuries and illnesses.
“Good jobs boost productivity, reduce turnover, and yield growth for businesses.” said Crystal Weise, research associate for Inclusive Economy at CAP and author of the report. “To help their organizations and workers thrive, employers should increase their investments in workplace safety and training to create more profitable businesses and economic growth.”
Read the report: “The Business Case for Good Jobs” by Crystal Weise
For more information or to speak with an expert, please contact Sarah Nadeau at [email protected].