Eastern Bank Foundation Fellow Jerry Rubin and co-author Steven Dawson joined Eastern Bank Chair Bob Rivers in a fireside chat to explore how new approaches to hiring and retention can give employers a competitive edge
BOSTON, MA – September 15, 2026 – Press Release– More than 100 business, nonprofit, and civic leaders gathered at the UMass Club in Boston today for a discussion of the newly released Help Wanted: How to Find and Keep Talent in a Forever-Tight Labor Market.
The book, sponsored by Eastern Bank Foundation and published in August by The MIT Press, lays out actionable solutions for employers navigating a convergence of challenging labor trends: a permanently shrinking labor supply, an aging population, and an outflow of native-born workers coupled with recent immigration restrictions.
“The changing economic landscape and its effect on workforce development are core to Eastern Bank Foundation’s focus on addressing economic inclusion and mobility, and our commitment to helping all people prosper,” said Bob Rivers, Executive Chair and Chair of the Board of Directors of Eastern Bank. “Jerry Rubin and Steven Dawson explain why labor shortages are here to stay, and what employers can do to attract, hire, and keep talent in a forever-tight market, from connecting with ‘untapped talent’ pools to forming strategic collaborations with community-focused training organizations. These ideas are critical for employers of any size as they plan for growth and hiring, and ultimately, contribute to a local economy that thrives.”
Rubin and Dawson draw on a combined 80 years of experience in management and workforce development to outline employee-focused competitive strategies that encourage employers to think beyond traditional practices, including:
- Recruiting from “untapped talent” pools, including immigrants, individuals with disabilities, those with limited English skills, individuals returning from prison, and workers with short employment histories.
- Redesigning roles so workers want to stay and grow. Job quality starts with good pay and benefits, but should also reflect clear advancement paths as well as potential options like employee ownership. Begin by asking employees what they need, start small, and build on what works over time.
- Rethinking government relations. Embracing proactive measures and joining business coalitions to secure a stable regional talent pipeline, and to support public investment in early education and childcare, affordable workforce housing, transportation, and adult education and training.
- Partnering with specialized workforce development organizations, regional community colleges, and vocational-technical high schools uniquely qualified to source untapped talent and help redesign jobs.
Hosted by Eastern Bank Foundation, the fireside chat was moderated by Eastern Bank Executive Chair Bob Rivers, and featured Jerry Rubin, an Eastern Bank Foundation Fellow and Senior Advisor at the Harvard Project on Workforce, and Steven Dawson, founder of PHI, a national organization focused on improving job quality and training for direct-care and frontline healthcare workers. The pair emphasized that while hiring demand remains volatile across industries, relying on traditional recruiting tactics is no longer enough to stay competitive.
“At a moment when talent shortages affect nearly every industry, or will soon,
Help Wanted offers a roadmap for employers seeking sustainable solutions rather than short-term fixes,” said co-author and Eastern Bank Foundation Fellow Jerry Rubin.
“Investing in people is now a competitive business necessity. The employers who are redesigning jobs, recruiting differently, and partnering with workforce organizations to attract and retain the talent their businesses depend on are the ones gaining an edge.”
Co-author Steven Dawson added, “Untapped talent isn’t only outside your company – it’s often your own employees. Our book is aimed at employers, but also at those who serve them, including educational and training institutions focused on workforce development solutions.”
To learn more about Help Wanted, contact foundation@easternbank.com.
