HBS Managing the Future of Work JFF's Maria Flynn on getting to good jobs
Sep 4, 2025
Maria Flynn, President and CEO of Jobs for the Future, leads the conversation on increasing job quality amid economic uncertainties. She highlights the need for equitable workforce development and the transformative role of AI in hiring. Emphasizing the distinction between job quantity and quality, Flynn advocates for pathways that provide access to quality jobs for all, especially marginalized communities. The discussion also touches on the importance of a bipartisan approach to tackling inequality and the urgency for education systems to adapt to future labor demands.
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A Kitchen-Table Start In Workforce Policy
- Maria Flynn describes growing up with parents who worked in education and labor, shaping her career in workforce policy.
- That kitchen-table exposure led her to start at the U.S. Department of Labor and pursue integrated education-workforce solutions.
Five Dimensions Define Job Quality
- JFF defines quality jobs by five worker-centered dimensions: pay, safety/respect, voice, advancement, and schedule control.
- Different workers prioritize these dimensions differently, so job quality must be measured from worker perspectives.
North Star: 75 Million In Quality Jobs
- JFF measures progress toward a 2033 North Star: 75 million people in quality jobs, focusing on four priority populations.
- Despite gains, 63% of those populations still lack quality jobs, so systemic change is required.