3  Part of the problem is that because of its unfamiliarity, economics can seem unappealing. The Royal Economics Society suggests people’s lack of enthusiasm for the dismal science is based on a narrow (and dry) perception of the subject and its masters. 4  As you might expect, I disagree. And so do most students, once we meet them. They are usually surprised by the breadth of topics that economists consider. For example, colleagues are currently working on issues such as the impact of Artificial Intelligence on the future of work, the role of the financial system in combatting climate change, and the value of diversity in decision making .A quick visit to our Bank Underground blog will reveal articles on the impact of mental health, crypto currencies and driverless cars on jobs, growth, inflation and wellbeing. A more disturbing impediment to the study of economics is the imposter syndrome. There is a perception that economics is “not for people like me” not least because the profession lacks diverse role models. And this challenge is reinforced by the limited opportunities available for students to study economics. 3  Joint Council for Qualifications, 2017 GCSE and A-Level results, available at: https://www.jcq.org.uk/examinationresults/gcses/2017/gcse-full-course-results-summer-2017/gcse-full-course-results-summer-2017 and Joint Council of Qualifications, 2017 A-level results, available at: https://www.jcq.org.uk/examination-results/a-levels/2017/main-results-tables/a-as-and-aea-resultssummer-2017 4 Royal Economic Society Newsletter, issue 180, January 2018 4  All speeches are available online at www.bankofengland.co.uk/speeches  4  As a consequence, the economics profession is not as diverse as it should be.

A report released shortly after I came to the New York Fed showed that the typical New York State community college engages with more than 100 local employers, spanning every industry sector.4 More recently, the New York Fed hosted an event that explored ways to advance economic prosperity in rural areas.5 Many great insights were shared, including a framework for workforce development programs that contained four principles: 1) fashioning a strategy around a community's assets; 2) designing programs that are adaptable; 3) including traditionally marginalized groups in decision-making; and 4) bringing together community, business, and government leaders-like you are doing today. 2/3  BIS - Central bankers' speeches  Conclusion Developing career-building programs that meet the needs of local employers and are accessible to job seekers is critical to bridging the skills gap. Collaboration is a key component of any successful program. By joining together, we can advance the economic resilience of rural areas like Columbia and Greene Counties-and strengthen our Jenga tower. 1 Columbia-Greene LWDA Local Plan, July 1, 2021 – June 30, 2025. 2 Office of the New York State Comptroller, Availability, Access and Affordability:  Understanding Broadband Challenges in New York State, September 2021. 3 Investing in America's Workforce, a Federal Reserve System initiative in collaboration  with the Heldrich Center for Workforce Development at Rutgers University, the Ray Marshall Center at the University of Texas at Austin, and the W.E. Upjohn Institute for Employment Research (2019).