The SGA will work under the supervision of Dr. Modestino and Susan Buckey of Jewish Vocational Services (JVS) to measure the economic impact of the JVS Job Quality Benchmarking Index. After launching their Job Quality Benchmarking Index, JVS has used the data collected by the index to inform employers about their entry-level positions based on the five pillars of job quality (wages, benefits, schedule, career ladders and supportive environment) which has led some employers to make improvements to their jobs. The purpose of this research is for Northeastern University to collect additional information through interviews and focus groups to measure the economic impact of the JVS Job Quality Benchmarking Index. The SGA will be responsible for interviewing JVS employer-partners about their experiences using the benchmarking index, conducting focus groups with workers of those same partners, and doing a quantitative landscape analysis of childcare industry. Using these three data sources, the SGA will assess what impact the benchmarking index has had on firm-level HR practices, worker experiences, the childcare industry, and the broader regional economy. The SGA will present their findings at monthly zoom meetings with the client, assist with writing sections of the final report for JVS, and also co-author a peer-reviewed journal article if appropriate.
-
Project Title
Measuring the Economic Impact of a New Job Quality Benchmarking Index
-
Faculty / Project Lead
Alicia Sasser Modestino
-
Project Description
This project will support a new research-practice partnership between Northeastern University’s Dukakis Center for Urban and Regional Policy and JVS Boston. Since 2017, JVS has been focusing on improving job quality so that Boston-area residents have better opportunities to build wealth and obtain solid financial footing, while at the same time, helping employers attract and retain the best workers. After launching their Job Quality Benchmarking Index, JVS has used the data collected by the index to inform employers about their entry-level positions based on the five pillars of job quality (wages, benefits, schedule, career ladders and supportive environment) which has led some employers to make improvements to their jobs. The goal of the research is to conduct and disseminate an industry case study which demonstrates the impact of employers’ job quality redesign on employees and their companies/organizations working in the child care industry. This will include looking at the essential role that early child care centers play in returning the economy to pre-pandemic levels and helping parents to return to the workforce, the financial tightrope that centers must walk to provide quality child care while also paying their employees a competitive wage. Please visit Professor Modestino’s web site (https://aliciasassermodestino.com/) for background reading on the importance of the childcare industry during the COVID-19 economic recovery.
-
Qualifications Necessary
The ideal candidate will possess all of the required qualifications listed below plus one or two of the additional qualifications. Required Qualifications: • Attention to detail and organization are essential to ensure data integrity • Experience conducting interviews and focus groups • Ability to analyze both quantitative and qualitative data • Experience conducting social science research in economics, sociology, or a related field • Deadline oriented to achieve external milestones required by policy partner Additional Qualifications: • Knowledge of STATA to analyze quantitative data • Understanding of workforce development programs • Ability to create professional presentations for meetings with external partners • Ability to write policy briefs and reports for a lay audience