Matt

Matt Helmer is director of job quality and worker well-being at the Aspen Institute Economic Opportunities Program, which he rejoined in 2022. His work focuses on developing conversations, tools, and research that advance job quality, employee ownership, and economic security for all workers. Matt has a background in workforce development, affordable housing, and adult education. Before rejoining the Institute, he led a team at the Seattle Housing Authority focused on workforce development, asset building, and eviction prevention. Prior to that, he was a senior policy analyst at the Seattle Jobs Initiative, where he evaluated workforce programs and researched job quality and economic development. Earlier in his career, Matt supported immigrants and refugees at a Seattle nonprofit, served as a senior English language fellow in Damascus, and was a Peace Corps Volunteer in Tonga. He holds degrees from Southern Illinois University and the University of Washington.