Many of the fastest-growing sectors today are also those where wages, benefits, and working conditions often fall short of supporting a stable life. But these outcomes are not inevitable.

Through examples from Shift Work Forward’s work in childcare and retail, this plenary examines how communities can change the conditions that shape job quality by aligning worker voice, employer practices, public and private partners, and local coalitions around a shared goal. Drawing on data, participant reflection, and stories from the field, we’ll unpack the forces that shape low-quality jobs and what it takes to transform them. Participants will leave with a deeper understanding of how to improve job quality at scale, and why no sector should be written off as incapable of delivering good jobs that provide stability, opportunity, and dignity.