Jobs-Rich Cities: Three Potential Frontiers of Economic Development

Unemployment still looms above 2007 levels, and is coupled with the lowest labor force participation in 30 years. Arthur Burris outlines what kinds of strategies cities can adopt to help their local economies.

1 minute read

August 1, 2014, 9:00 AM PDT

By Maayan Dembo @DJ_Mayjahn


Despite current rising employment rates throughout the country, less-educated workers have more than double the unemployment (7 percent) as college graduates (3 percent). Indeed, there also exist large racial disparities of unemployment between African-Americans and whites (12.1 percent, 5.7 percent, respectively). In these conditions, cities are vying for ways to create more, and better, jobs for their residents.

From conversations with some of the leading minds in local economic development, Arthur Burris of Living Cities compiled three main principles:

      1. Using "asset-based" approaches, and linking with existing institutions, cultivating clusters, and stepping up export activity.

      2. "Rewiring 'operating systems,'" to realign “relationships, incentives, and resources applied to economic development."

      3. "Increasing the opportunity supply for lower-skilled workers," and shifting towards job dynamic job training and creation.

These three principles do not provide hard lined policy measures, but rather guide city planners into the direction of creating equitable economic policy that would benefit local residents.

Friday, February 28, 2014 in Living Cities

Sweeping view of Portland, Oregon with Mt. Hood in background against sunset sky.

Oregon Passes Exemption to Urban Growth Boundary

Cities have a one-time chance to acquire new land for development in a bid to increase housing supply and affordability.

March 12, 2024 - Housing Wire

Aerial view of green roofs with plants in Sydney, Australia.

Where Urban Design Is Headed in 2024

A forecast of likely trends in urban design and architecture.

March 10, 2024 - Daily Journal of Commerce

Cobblestone street with streetcar line, row of vintage streetlights on left, and colorful restaurant and shop awnings on right on River Street in Savannah, Georgia.

Savannah: A City of Planning Contrasts

From a human-scales, plaza-anchored grid to suburban sprawl, the oldest planned city in the United States has seen wildly different development patterns.

March 12, 2024 - Strong Towns

Aerial View of Chuckanut Drive and the Blanchard Bridge in the Skagit Valley.

Washington Tribes Receive Resilience Funding

The 28 grants support projects including relocation efforts as coastal communities face the growing impacts of climate change.

March 18 - The Seattle Times

Historic buildings in downtown Los Angeles with large "Pan American Lofts" sign on side of building.

Adaptive Reuse Bills Introduced in California Assembly

The legislation would expand eligibility for economic incentives and let cities loosen regulations to allow for more building conversions.

March 18 - Beverly Press

View from above of swan-shaped paddleboats with lights on around artesian fountain in Echo Park Lake with downtown Los Angeles skylien in background at twilight.

LA's Top Parks, Ranked

TimeOut just released its list of the top 26 parks in the L.A. area, which is home to some of the best green spaces around.

March 18 - TimeOut

News from HUD User

HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research

Call for Speakers

Mpact Transit + Community

New Updates on PD&R Edge

HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research

Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools

This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.

Planning for Universal Design

Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.