Workforce Today

Drexel University economist Paul Harrington returns to the program to discuss the future of the post-pandemic economy, as well as labor market trends. Paul also shares his thoughts about the current and future state of manufacturing and whether we will face a crisis when it comes to long-term unemployed workers.

Ari Santiago, President of IT Direct, joins the program to discuss the impact that the COVID-19 pandemic has had on his IT services business, as well as the trends he is seeing in his manufacturing clientele and his podcast “Made in America.” Ari also shares his thoughts on attracting tech talent and the impact of manufacturers investing in robotics and AI technologies.

Tariq Farid, founder of Edible Arrangements, joins the program to discuss his newest venture, Incredible Edibles, an end-to-end CBD product business that will farm, process and sell CBD food products through a franchise model. Tariq reveals why he decided to start Incredible Edibles, the benefits of CBD for consumers, and the potential economic impact of the industry.

This episode was recorded live at the Amazon Fullfillment Center in North Haven, Connecticut with Richard Dyce, Director of Operations for the facility. The center features 855,000-square-feet of space and 10 miles of conveyors. Discover why Amazon chose the North Haven location, the role of automation in the shipping and fullfillment process, and the benefits and opportunities available to employees.

Bill Villano keeps asking questions about how automation and robotics impact the labor force. He talks with Professor and Economist Harry J. Holzer on how to prepare for more disruption. Are wage subsidies the best way to make up the loss? How does that fit in with or labor reforms to avoid the “3 L’s”: longer unemployment, lower wages, and labor market withdrawal. Holzer is a public policy professor at Georgetown University, a Brookings Institute contributor, and former U.S. Dept. of Labor economist.