The Future of Worker Financial Security: The Nexus of Work and Benefits

A dominant narrative that being employed ensures financial security persists in the US, yet many workers have jobs that prohibit them from achieving financial stability. Many lack benefits, have low earnings, and live in poverty. Employment with comprehensive benefits has become less common and accessible, and policymakers and business leaders are challenged with designing alternative ways for workers to achieve financial security.

Join the Aspen Institute Financial Security Program (Aspen FSP) and WorkRise for an exploration of research on workers’ financial health and a conversation about building better pathways to financial security and economic mobility.

The event will launch a new report from Aspen FSP and its Consumer Insights Collaborative that explains how work arrangements relate to worker benefit provisions and how both work and benefits determine if workers can achieve financial security. The research explores why disparities in financial security outcomes for low- and moderate-income workers persist, especially for Black workers and other workers of color, women, and young workers, and sheds light on the conditions that support such workers’ financial stability.

Introduction: 

• Sarika Abbi, Associate Director, Financial Security Benefits Innovation, Aspen Institute Financial Security Program

Panel:

• Anmol Chaddha, Research Director, Equitable Futures Lab, Institute for the Future 
• Sheida Elmi, Research Program Manager, Insights and Evidence, Aspen Institute Financial Security Program   
• Debra Plousha-Moore, Founder and Principal, Plousha Moore Group 
• Elisabeth Jacobs, Deputy Director, WorkRise, and Senior Fellow, Center on Labor, Human Services, and Population, Urban Institute (moderator)

Additional Resources:

• The Complete Financial Lives of Workers: A Holistic Exploration of Work and Public and Workplace Benefit Arrangements (Aspen Institute) 
• Next50: Financial Well-Being Catalyst Brief (Urban Institute)

Join the conversation using #AspenFSPLive

This event was supported by the funders of WorkRise and the funders of Aspen FSP’s research on the complete financial lives of workers.

Send any inquiries regarding this event to events@urban.org. For media inquiries, please contact Archana Pyati at apyati@urban.org.