The Jacob France Institute (JFI) is a leader in labor market and education research, with a focus on workforce development, education outcomes, and economic planning.
The Institute specializes in evaluating the employment, retention, and earnings outcomes associated with training and education programs, including those offered by community colleges and four-year universities. JFI’s research helps stakeholders understand the impact of educational attainment on labor market success and informs strategic planning for workforce development initiatives.
JFI’s expertise extends to complex evaluations using statistical and econometric techniques
to analyze workforce program outcomes and effectiveness. The Institute’s work in economic
and workforce development planning, as well as economic and fiscal impact assessments,
provides valuable insights for policymakers and program administrators. Additionally,
JFI utilizes Geographic Information Systems (GIS) to map and analyze labor market
and education data, offering a spatial perspective on workforce trends and needs.
As the data partner of the Maryland Department of Labor, JFI maintains the Maryland Wage Record Archive, one of the nation’s oldest state administrative data archives. This resource, which includes linked individual records across education, employment, and business domains, supports JFI’s research on labor market outcomes and education impacts. By integrating data from K-12 schools, community colleges, universities, and workforce training providers, JFI has provided a comprehensive understanding of how education and training programs influence labor market success.