Resources / Tool

US Private Sector Job Quality Index

Overview

The US Private Sector Job Quality Index (JQI) is intended to reflect job quality in the United States, using data on weekly wages and hours for high wage jobs versus low wage jobs. Released each month on the same day as the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ US Employment Situation Report, it captures a distinct view of labor market health and offers monthly tracking of the composition of high quality to low quality jobs, using pay as a proxy for overall job quality. Historical data also documents a shift from jobs in manufacturing to services, as well as a shift within services from higher to low quality jobs.

Link
US Private Sector Job Quality Index
View Tool (opens in a new tab)
Organization
  • University of Buffalo School of Management
Published
2024
View Tool (opens in a new tab)
Audiences
EmployersInvesting and LendingPolicyWorker AdvocacyWorkforce & Economic Development
Issue Areas
Measurement & EvaluationWages & Wealth Building

Related Resources

The Resource Library is the heart of the Job Quality Center of Excellence. Check out our recent additions below, and click “View All Resources” to explore more.
View All Resources
Tool
Good Jobs, Good Business Toolkit — Scheduling + Paid Leave
Pacific Community Ventures
Tool
Good Jobs, Good Business Toolkit — Health Benefits
Pacific Community Ventures
Tool2025
Cost of Turnover Calculator
Coastal Enterprises, Inc.
Tool
Bias Interrupters Toolkits
Equality Action Center
Tool
Gender Decoder
Kat Matfield
Tool
Employer Toolkit
Women’s Fund of the Greater Cincinnati Foundation
Tool
Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Checklist
Center for Equity, Gender & Leadership at Berkeley Haas School of Business
Tool
Opportunity Employment Best Practices
Opportunity Navigator
Tool
Employee Engagement
Gallup
Tool
Data and Research on Employee Ownership
National Center for Employee Ownership
Tool
Roles & Goals Resources
The Management Center
Tool
Hiring Resources
The Management Center
Key Frameworks for Success
Tool
Key Frameworks for Success
Mind Share Partners
Resources on Pregnancy:Breastfeeding Accommodations
Tool
Resources on Pregnancy/Breastfeeding Accommodations
Center for WorkLife Law
Business partners having meeting in coworking office space
Tool
PHI Coaching Approach
PHI
Handsome Caucasian Man Having a Video Call on Laptop Computer while Sitting Behind Desk in Living Room. Freelancer Working From Home and Talking to Colleagues and Clients Over the Internet.
Tool
Progression in Employment
Institute for Employment Studies
Afro Latino female construction worker is sitting on the ground chatting on her cell phone
Tool
Behavioral Economics for Workforce Professionals
National Fund for Workforce Solutions
Individuals Unite Together Into Team, Family, Network
Tool
Equity and Inclusion Tools
The Management Center
Accomodation and Compliance Series by Disability
Tool
Accomodation and Compliance Series by Disability
Job Acommodation Network
Write on paper
Tool
Employee Accomodation Inquiry Letter
Job Acommodation Network
Atmosphere around office blur background with bokeh
Tool
Employees’ Practical Guide to Requesting and Negotiating Reasonable Accommodation Under the Americans with Disabilities Act
Job Acommodation Network
Pink piggy bank and Stacks of money coins
Tool
Guide to Employee Financial Wellness
National Fund for Workforce Solutions
Loan Request Form
Tool
Income Advance Guide
B Lab and Rhino Foods
Smiling couple using tablet computer in a clothes shop
Tool
Reimagining Employer Engagement
Reimagine Retail Chicagoland
Programmers cooperating at IT company developing apps
Tool
How to Build Job Quality into Your Workforce Development Approach
San Diego Workforce Partnership
Toy forklift hold letter block B to complete word job on wood background
Tool
Job Design Framework
National Fund for Workforce Solutions
A toy forklift pushing four blocks that spell out the word 'GOOD'.
Tool
What Is a “Good” Job?
Good Jobs Institute
Aerial view of supported hands out together
Tool
Employee Ownership
Results for America
Young creative business people meeting at office.
Tool
Democratic Management
Democracy at Work Institute
Latin American Coffee Shop Employee Accepts a Pre-Order on a Mobile Phone Call and Writes it Down on Laptop Computer in a Cozy Cafe. Restaurant Manager Browsing Internet and Talking on Smartphone.
Tool
Becoming Employee Owned
Democracy at Work Institute
Paper
Tool
Our Share
Rutgers University
Employee Ownership Online Education Program
Tool
Employee Ownership Online Education Program
Rutgers University
Who’s Who in ESOPs and Employee Ownership
Tool
Who’s Who in ESOPs and Employee Ownership
National Center for Employee Ownership
Texting and driving, behind the wheel. Breaking the law.
Tool2024
Qualified Transportation Fringe Benefits
Best Workplaces for Commuters
Conducting a Pay Equity Audit
Tool2024
Family Budget Calculator
Economic Policy Institute
Living Wage Calculator
Tool2024
Living Wage Calculator
MIT
worker and businessmen with clipboard at warehouse
Tool2024
Toolkit for Developing High-Performing Industry Partnerships
National Fund for Workforce Solutions
Graphic designers
Tool2024
Opportunity Navigator
FSG Talent Rewire Initiative, et al.
Portrait of woman cashier smiling
Tool2024
Application for Family Friendly Business Award
Family Friendly New Mexico
Three business professionals working and sharing ideas
Tool2024
The B Impact Assessment
BLab
Missing women
Tool2024
US Private Sector Job Quality Index
University of Buffalo School of Management
Handshake, teamwork and collaboration with the hands of business people in agreement, deal or thank you in an office at work. Meeting, partnership and welcome with an employee and partner at work
Tool2024
The Shared Power Advantage
Aspen Institute Economic Opportunities Program and Charter
group of hardware store workers
Tool2024
An Interactive Introduction to ESOPs
National Center for Employee Ownership
Store owner turning open sign broad through the door glass and ready to service.
Tool2024
Job Quality Narrative Playbook
Aspen Institute Economic Opportunities Program, et al.
Aerial view of supported hands out together
Tool2024
Transgender Inclusion in the Workplace
Human Rights Campaign
Cheerful business owners standing with open blackboard
Tool2024
Lessons and Takeaways from Supporting Small Businesses to Improve Job Quality
The Aspen Institute Economic Opportunities Program
Asian worker writing observations about manufacturing
Tool2024
Centering Worker Voice in Employer Engagement and Program Design
Aspen Institute Economic Opportunities Program
Female Restaurant Manager With Digital Tablet Giving Team Talk To Waiting Staff
Tool2024
Centering Worker Voice in Employer Engagement and Program Design
Aspen Institute Economic Opportunities Program
Research Center
Tool2024
Research Center
United for ALICE
Cheerful business owners standing with open blackboard
Tool2024
Lessons and Takeaways from Supporting Small Businesses to Improve Job Quality
Aspen Institute Economic Opportunities Program
Young owners using cash register while standing in cafe
Tool2024
Statement on Good Jobs
Aspen Institute Economic Opportunities Program, et al.
Employee Ownership for Closely Held (Private) Companies
Tool2024
Employee Ownership for Closely Held (Private) Companies
National Center for Employee Ownership
Supporting Employee Mental Health During the Coronavirus Epidemic
Tool2024
Supporting Employee Mental Health During the Coronavirus Epidemic
Mind Share Partners
Teamwork foreman man and woman wearing protection face mask and safety helmet using laptop and holding clipboard checking containers in cargo ship for import export, Industrial container cargo concept.
Tool2024
The COVID-19 Corporate Response Tracker
JUST Capital
Self isolation and social distance during COVID-19 pandemic
Tool2024
Safety First
Aspen Institute Food & Society Program
Business owner Asian woman wear protective face mask ppe hanging open sign at her restaurant / café, open again after lock down due to outbreak of coronavirus covid-19
Tool2024
Seven Workforce Questions That are Top of Mind During COVID-19
Aspen Institute Economic Opportunities Program
Close-up of businessman handshaking with auto mechanic in a workshop.
Tool2024
Employer Engagement Question Bank
Generation Work, et al.
Communicating on Race and Racial Equity
Tool2024
Communicating on Race and Racial Equity
Prosperity Now
Portrait of young man with face mask back at work in office after lockdown.
Tool2024
Coronavirus: Work Safely
National Domestic Workers Alliance
Portrait Of Smiling Male And Female College Students With Teachers Outside School Building
Tool2024
A Toolkit to Engage Employers and Opportunity Youth on the Future of Work
The Aspen Institute Economic Opportunities Program, et al.
Smiling engineers standing in a shipping yard shaking hands together
Tool2024
Good Jobs, Good Business
Pacific Community Ventures
inclusion for refugees in the workplace
Tool2024
A New Home at work
Deloitte
Employment Discrimination
Tool2024
Filing an Employment Discrimination Charge with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission
Women Employed
Portrait of sales assistant
Tool2024
Question Bank for Workforce Service Providers
Aspen Institute Economic Opportunities Program
Middle aged black man entering the foyer of modern building
Tool2024
Cost of Turnover Tool
Aspen Institute Economic Opportunities Program
Conducting a Pay Equity Audit
Tool2025
Conducting a Pay Equity Audit
Practical Law
Working together
Tool2024
A Quick-Start Toolkit – Building Registered Apprenticeship Programs
Department of Labor
Key Elements of Successful Tuition Assistance Programs
Tool2024
Key Elements of Successful Tuition Assistance Programs
Aspen Institute Economic Opportunities Program, et al.
Close-up Of Black Graduation Cap
Tool2024
From Tuition Reimbursement to Tuition Disbursement
Aspen Institute Economic Opportunities Program, et al.
Woman using a barcode reader in a distribution warehouse
Tool2025
Ready for Equity in Workforce Development
Race Forward, et al.
UpSkilling Playbook for Employers
Tool2024
UpSkilling Playbook for Employers
UpSkill America
Growing business
Tool2024
Employee Financial Health
Financial Health Network
Afro American businessman at home
Tool2024
Workplace Financial Wellness Services
Prosperity Now, et al.
Smiling male and female colleagues discussing plans while looking at a tablet standing in coffee shop
Tool2024
Adding Racial Equity to the Menu
ROC United, et al.
Communities that Work Partnership Playbook
Tool2024
Communities that Work Partnership Playbook
Aspen Institute Economic Opportunities Program
Stack of hands showing unity
Tool2024
Creating a Member Engagement Plan
Democracy at Work Institute
Hand Passing Keys To New Owner
Tool2024
A brief, visual guide to understanding employee ownership structures
Democracy at Work Institute
Becoming Employee-Owned
Tool2024
Becoming Employee-Owned
Democracy at Work Institute
Economist with papers
Tool2024
Racial Equity Toolkit
Seattle Race and Social Justice Initiative
Organizational self assessment
Tool2024
Organizational Self-Assessment
Race Matters, et al.
young african factory worker with colleagues
Tool2024
Steps to Starting a Worker Coop
Democracy at Work Institute
View All Resources

Submit a Resource

What resources have you found useful for advancing job quality? Share your favorites so we can consider adding them to the Job Quality Center of Excellence.

Submit A Resource