Elisabeth Jacobs

Elisabeth Jacobs is an Associate Vice President at the Urban Institute and co-founder of WorkRise, a research network addressing jobs, workers, and mobility. She previously held roles at the Washington Center for Equitable Growth, Brookings Institution, and congressional committees. Her work focuses on labor markets, economic mobility, and policies to reduce inequality.

Education: BA from Yale University, MA and PhD from Harvard University (Kennedy School).

Research interests include low-wage employment, job quality, racial equity in labor markets, and work-family balance. She bridges research to policy through actionable frameworks and communications. Key publications include her book on labor markets and poverty, and reports on racial equity policies.

• Awards: Elected member of the National Academy for Social Insurance
• Advising: Collaborates with researchers and policymakers to inform equitable labor policies
• Labs/Teams: Leads WorkRise, advancing evidence-based solutions for workers