In 2016, Massachusetts became the first state where 50 percent of the workforce holds a four‐year college degree. In general, states with better-educated workforces have stronger economies with robust job growth and high wages. Yet, this prosperity has not been shared equally across all workers in the Commonwealth. This disparity is even greater in Boston, recently ranked first in income inequality among America’s largest 50 cities. What accounts for this continued growth in inequality across educational groups?

“Untapped: Redefining Hiring in the New Economy” seeks to examine this matter at its core. The report has been conducted by Northeastern University’s Dukakis Center for Urban and Regional Policy and Burning Glass Technologies, and commissioned by the Mayor’s Office of Workforce Development. Through an extensive analysis of worker resumes, job postings, and other data points, a new lens is applied to non‐BA workers in Greater Boston and the degree to which they align with employer demand.

Please join us as we hear from the report’s author and a panel of employers, each of whom have taken a specific approach to hiring non-BA workers in Boston. The panel will explore what actions City leaders, employers, and community institutions can take to support a more inclusive and productive workforce.