Building Good Jobs into America’s Infrastructure Investments

Investments to renew our nation’s infrastructure offer many possible benefits to our economy and our society. One of the most often cited benefits is that these investments will create good jobs. Indeed many policymakers see infrastructure investments as among the most promising of policy options to respond to clear concern about jobs expressed by their constituents. Rebuilding America’s crumbling roads, rails, bridges, buildings, power plants, storm water and sewer systems, and more will require a lot of skilled work. And investments in transportation and other infrastructure help many more working people be able to reliably get to work. In communities across the country, much has been learned about how to invest in infrastructure projects in ways that support economic development goals and help people in the community connect to good jobs. In this panel, speakers discuss the opportunities for work created by infrastructure projects as well as the benefits that renewed infrastructure offer for both workers and business. Panelists share examples from companies and projects around the country, highlighting the business case for investing in workers, training, and safety, not only to benefit workers, but also to improve company operations and America’s critical physical assets. This event features Denise Fairchild (President & CEO, Emerald Cities Collaborative), Charles “Rick” Moore (Vice President, Director Community Relations, Swinerton Incorporated), Dana Redd (Mayor, Camden, New Jersey), Adie Tomer (Fellow, Metropolitan Policy Program, Brookings Institution), and moderator Lori Aratani (Reporter, The Washington Post). Learn more about this event at as.pn/infrastructure. This event is part of the Working in America series, an ongoing discussion series hosted by the Aspen Institute Economic Opportunities Program that highlights an array of critical issues affecting low- and moderate-income workers in the United States and ideas for improving and expanding economic opportunities for working people. For more information, visit as.pn/workinginamerica. The Economic Opportunities Program advances strategies, policies, and ideas to help low- and moderate-income people thrive in a changing economy. We recognize that race, gender, and place intersect with and intensify the challenge of economic inequality and we address these dynamics by advancing an inclusive vision of economic justice. For over 25 years, EOP has focused on expanding individuals’ opportunities to connect to quality work, start businesses, and build economic stability that provides the freedom to pursue opportunity. Learn more at as.pn/eop.