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Labor, Leisure, and Life Choices: How Child-Rearing and Local Amenities Impact Urban Migration
July 10 @ 11:00 am – 12:30 pm CDT
On Thursday, July 10, 2025, at 11:00 am CT, join the Economic Mobility Project of the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago for a thought-provoking virtual discussion on the intersections of skill development, geographic mobility, and urban living, centered on “Skills, migration, and urban amenities over the life cycle,” a study by Jason Faberman, senior economist at the Chicago Fed.
We will explore how individuals decide where to move based on their skill levels and life stage and how urban amenities, from job opportunities to lifestyle factors, play a key role in attracting talent at different stages of their careers and lives. Moderated by Sarah Holder, a panel of experts including Arthur Gailes, Angela Habr, and Hannah Love, will examine the following questions.
- How do cities attract and retain skilled workers at different life stages?
- What role do local amenities and economic conditions play in these migration patterns?
- How do early-career choices shape long-term geographic and economic outcomes?
With implications for urban policy, workforce development, and regional planning, this conversation is essential for researchers, policymakers, and professionals focused on labor markets, human capital, and the ever-evolving role of cities in a post-pandemic economy.
Audience Q&A will follow the panel discussion. Viewers can ask questions in advance during event registration and on X @ChicagoFed using hashtag #UrbanAmenities.
Registration Deadline: July 10, 2025
Agenda
11:00 am CT
Welcome and Framing Remarks
Speaker: Kristen Broady, Senior Economist, Economic Advisor, and Director of the Economic Mobility Project, Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago
11:02 am CT
Skills, Migration, and Urban Amenities Over the Life Cycle
Speaker: Jason Faberman, Senior Economist & Economic Advisor, Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago
11:18 am CT
Panel Discussion
Moderator: Sarah Holder, Co-Host of Bloomberg’s Big Take Podcast and Reporter, Bloomberg News
Panelists:
Arthur Gailes, Senior Manager of Housing Supply Initiatives | AEI Housing Center, American Enterprise Institute
Angela Habr, Executive Director, Hyde Park Neighborhood Club
Hannah Love, Fellow, Brookings Metro, Anne T. and Robert M. Bass Center for Transformative Placemaking
11:58 am CT
Closing Remarks
Speaker: Kristen Broady, Senior Economist, Economic Advisor, and Director of the Economic Mobility Project, Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago