John J. Heldrich Center for Workforce Development

Name

John J. Heldrich Center for Workforce Development

Legal name

John J. Heldrich Center for Workforce Development

Website

https://heldrich.rutgers.edu

Company type

Private

Founded year

1997

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

5,001–10,000 employees

Short description

The John J. Heldrich Center for Workforce Development is a Rutgers University research center that conducts policy research, program evaluation, and operates the New Jersey Statewide Data System for state agencies, policymakers, employers, and job seekers.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Workforce Development Research and Policy Services

NAICS

Administration of Human Resource Programs (except Education, Public Health, and Veterans' Affairs Programs) (92313), Vocational Rehabilitation Services (6243)

SIC

Services-Management Consulting Services (8742), Services-Computer Programming, Data Processing, Etc. (7370)

akta.pro primary industry

Workforce Support Services & Case Management (Coaching, Wraparound) (EDAAAOAK)

Keywords

• Workforce development research
• Labor market analysis
• Policy research services
• Education data systems
• Employment policy research

Headquarters

HQ city

New Brunswick

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Government Grants and Contracts: Funded by federal and state government agencies including the U.S. Department of Labor, New Jersey Department of Labor, and other state agencies for workforce development research and evaluation projects.
2. Institutional Funding: Base funding from Rutgers University and endowment income established through contributions, including from the center's namesake John J. Heldrich.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

The Heldrich Center conducts contracted policy research and program evaluation on workforce development, education-to-career pathways, disability employment, labor market trends, aging workers, the care economy, income supports, long-term unemployment, and trauma-informed practice. It operates the New Jersey Statewide Data System (NJSDS), a statewide longitudinal data platform linking administrative data from multiple state agencies to enable data-driven policymaking. It also disseminates findings through the Work Trends RU podcast, research publications, and policy briefings to government, employers, educators, and the public.

Product overview

The John J. Heldrich Center for Workforce Development is a university-based research and policy organization (not a technology product company) that offers a portfolio of research services, data platforms, publications, and knowledge dissemination products. The core offerings include the New Jersey Statewide Data System (NJSDS), a longitudinal data platform for state agency data; the Work Trends RU podcast series for disseminating workforce research; and various research and evaluation projects on workforce development topics. These products serve policymakers, researchers, job seekers, and employers through evidence-based analysis and data-informed decision-making tools.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• New Jersey Statewide Data System (NJSDS): A statewide interagency and intergovernmental platform for public administrative data, housed at the Heldrich Center, enabling longitudinal and linked data research for New Jersey policymakers and stakeholders.
• Work Trends RU Podcast

Products and services

• New Jersey Statewide Data System (NJSDS) A statewide longitudinal data system linking administrative data from participating New Jersey agencies — including the Department of Education, Office of the Secretary of Higher Education, Higher Education Student Assistance Authority, and Department of Labor and Workforce Development — to enable data-driven policymaking, longitudinal research, and statistical reporting on education and workforce outcomes.
• Workforce Development Research and Evaluation Projects

Quantifiable outcome

• New Jersey statewide data system established through legislation
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

20 partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• New Jersey Governor's OfficecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 June 2026Partners on the New Jersey State Employee Experience Survey and broader workforce policy initiatives.
• New Jersey Innovation AuthoritycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 June 2026Collaborates on the State Employee Experience Survey project.
• New Jersey Civil Service CommissioncoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 June 2026Collaborates on the State Employee Experience Survey project.
• New Jersey Office of Information TechnologycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 June 2026Collaborates on the State Employee Experience Survey project.
• New Jersey Climate Change Resource CentercoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 June 2026Engaged to assist with workforce planning analysis for the 2026-2027 Comprehensive Climate Action Plan status update, focusing on workforce development for climate action initiatives.
• New Jersey Board of Public UtilitiescoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 June 2026Serves as research, evaluation, and strategic thought partner on workforce development for energy efficiency, building decarbonization, and market transformation through the Business Industry Leadership Team model.
• New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce DevelopmentcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Primary state agency partner for workforce development research and evaluation. Collaborates on the New Jersey Statewide Data System and various workforce policy initiatives including Unemployment Insurance equity projects, reemployment services, and labor market analysis.
• Middlesex CountycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 December 2024Partners on healthcare workforce development initiatives including the RWJ Health Workforce Partnership Initiative to strengthen the region's healthcare talent pipeline while advancing equity and economic opportunity. Partnership ongoing since 2023.
• New Jersey Council on Developmental DisabilitiescoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 December 2024Requested and partners on research to improve employment outcomes for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities, including Employment First policies assessment.
• Institute for Community Inclusion at University of MassachusettscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 December 2024Collaborated on assessment of New Jersey's Employment First policies and practices, developing white paper and advocacy plan for competitive employment.
• New Jersey Office of the Secretary of Higher EducationcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 December 2023Partner agency in the New Jersey Statewide Data System governance. Collaborates on postsecondary education research, workforce Pell implementation, and higher education outcomes analysis.
• New Jersey Department of EducationcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 December 2023Partner agency in the New Jersey Statewide Data System. Collaborates on K-12 education and career readiness initiatives including career and technical education outcome studies.
• New Jersey Higher Education Student Assistance AuthoritycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 December 2023Partner agency in the New Jersey Statewide Data System focused on student financial assistance data integration.
• Rutgers UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 December 2023Parent institution. Center is based at the Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy. Established by Rutgers University Board of Governors in 1997.
• Rutgers School of Management and Labor RelationscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2021Collaborates on the Employer Disability Practices Center, a research center focused on increasing employment for individuals with disabilities.
• Syracuse UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2021Collaborates on the Employer Disability Practices Center, entering its fourth year, conducting research on disability employment practices.
• Indiana University HealthcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2021Collaborates on the Employer Disability Practices Center, conducting intersectional studies of disability practices and organizational culture in healthcare settings.
• NTAR Leadership Center (National Technical Assistance and Research Center)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2020Developed and managed national center to promote leadership for increasing employment and economic independence of adults with disabilities.
• Employer Assistance and Resource Network (EARN) on Disability InclusioncoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2011Conducted national research on disability employment including state employment practices, community college partnerships, and employer disability policies from 2011-2013.
• Cornell University School of Industrial and Labor RelationscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2011Grant partner through the U.S. Department of Labor's Office of Disability Employment Policy for national research on disability employment policies.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves10 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Urban Institute: Large nonprofit policy research organization covering economic and workforce policy among many domains; broader scope than Heldrich but operates a comparable research-to-policy model and partners with state agencies.
• RAND Corporation: Broad-based policy research institution with a workforce and labor policy portfolio that overlaps Heldrich's domain; similar academic-affiliated research model and federal/state contracting orientation.
• Abt Associates: Research and evaluation consultancy serving federal and state agencies with substantial workforce, education, and social program evaluation work — comparable as a competitor for DOL and state labor contracts.
• American Institutes for Research (AIR): Large nonprofit behavioral and social science research organization with workforce, education, and disability portfolios; directly competes for federal labor and disability employment contracts.
• Brookings Institution: Public policy research organization producing influential work on labor markets, workforce, and economic mobility; overlaps Heldrich's evidence-to-policy model at a broader national scale.

Direct peers

• Mathematica Policy Research: Major policy research and data analytics firm conducting program evaluations for federal and state agencies — directly comparable as a research partner for DOL-style workforce and disability employment evaluations.
• MDRC: Nonprofit social policy research organization that designs and evaluates programs in education, workforce, and economic well-being; comparable as a contract research and evaluation partner to state and federal agencies.
• W.E. Upjohn Institute for Employment Research: University-based (Western Michigan University) nonpartisan, nonprofit research organization focused on labor markets, workforce development, and unemployment — the closest analog in mission and operating model to the Heldrich Center.

Emerging players

• National Skills Coalition: Advocacy and policy organization focused on workforce skills policy at the state and federal level; comparable in mission (equitable workforce development) and target audience (state policymakers), though more advocacy-leaning than research.
• Aspen Institute (Workforce Strategies Initiative): Policy and convening organization with workforce-focused programs serving employers, funders, and practitioners; overlaps Heldrich's role convening state-level workforce dialogue, but with a national/practitioner orientation.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/HeldrichCenter
• Facebookfacebook.com/heldrich.center.for.workforce.development
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/john-j-heldrich-center-at-rutgers-university
• Xx.com/heldrichcenter

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about John J. Heldrich Center for Workforce Development