Jobs Creation Commission issues report

The state’s Jobs Creation Commission, created by the Legislature in 2008 and charged with recommending ways to create and maintain jobs in Massachusetts, released its final report on Oct. 3.

The report identified several industry clusters that currently thrive in the state, including information technology, life sciences, higher education, defense, clean energy, advanced manufacturing, and knowledge-based professional services.

Public infrastructure investment and improvements were cited as key to support many of these industry clusters. The report states that insufficient funds present a major constraint to new infrastructure investment, sometimes prohibiting economic development projects from proceeding. Increased infrastructure investment is needed for overall asset management and for specific transportation, water, and sewer projects that would support economic growth.

Also noted was the importance of “hyper-local” economic activity to the state’s economy – the town centers, city neighborhoods, and local independent businesses that create local jobs and bring outside spending into cities and towns.

The commission attributed the strength of the economy in Massachusetts, which has generally fared better than other states in recent years, to its “mature industries embracing change, a steady stream of new ideas and technology coming out of Massachusetts research institutions, rapidly changing advanced manufacturing capacity, and a vibrant start-up community inventing new industries and bringing profound change to the supply change of existing industry clusters.”

To create jobs, the commission recommends increasing the demand for products and services produced in Massachusetts; increasing state investment in infrastructure; supporting public education and aligning education and training with job demand; and ensuring robust, coordinated workforce development resources.

The 17-member commission, chaired by Sen. Karen Spilka and Rep. Joseph Wagner, included designees from executive agencies, business, labor, workforce development, and academia. The group met 17 times and held eight public listening sessions across the state.

• Download the Jobs Commission report (3.2M PDF)