We are pleased to share our Economic Mobility White Paper, which centers on the critical importance of job quality as a driver of both economic growth and workforce development. 

Drawing on 15 years of experience, The Skills Initiative offers key insights and lessons learned from connecting Philadelphians to high-quality careers and collaborating with employers across the region. The paper explores how job quality shapes long-term economic mobility—not just for individuals and families, but for entire communities. With analysis from 44 program cohorts, the data-driven insights in this paper not only demonstrate the value of prioritizing job quality but also underscore the critical need for regional joint action to close the gap in economic opportunity. This paper was authored by Cait Garozzo, Executive Director for The Skills Initiative and Sarah Steltz, Senior Vice President of Strategy for UCD, with key contributions from Director of Economic Mobility Patrick Bayer. 

We invite you to read the report and share it with those working in economic mobility. For questions and inquiries about this paper please contact Sarah Steltz at ssteltz@uniersitycity.org.