I have created and shared content for years designed to help economic developers in states and communities figure out how to best support the interdependence between their citizens (because that’s who talent is) and their employer bases.“Winning the war for talent”, that’s the phrase we threw around.
Today, I think it’s time to talk about how to LOSE the war for talent.
For decades, women and immigrants have been the major drivers of growth in the U.S. workforce.
More than 400,000 women left the workforce in the first half of 2025, with the steepest declines among mothers. No doubt some made a value-drive choice as to be at home with their children. But there is also little doubt that our decision to make no decision to fix a broken child care system, to support working parents, has pushed women out of the workforce.
Quoted in Forbes magazine January 2026: “The Trump administration’s policies on illegal and legal immigration would reduce the projected number of workers in the United States by 6.8 million by 2028 and by 15.7 million by 2035 and lower the annual rate of economic growth by
almost one-third, harming U.S. living standards,” according to an NFAP analysis.
Quoted in Fortune magazine August 2025: “A recent survey of U.S. college (research) faculty by the journal Nature found that 75% were looking for work outside the country.”
I could go on.
Economic developers have a history of passionate dedication to their communities and a reputation for effective advocacy. I’m looking forward to watching you assess your community’s best interests and watching you exercise your influence.