Core Jobs is a term coined by Jay Anderson, longtime financial leader in Pittsfield,
Massachusetts, and the current President and CEO of Pittsfield Cooperative
Bank. Anderson has used the term countless times in discussions in the community, in his role as chairman of the Pittsfield Economic Revitalization Corporation and during appearances on
media programs, such as Good Morning Pittsfield on WTBR-
FM and Pittsfield Community Television. Further context for this description comes as the
number of jobs available in the current economy, while providing income for employees, do not offer enough pay and/or benefits to allow an employee to provide for a respectable quality of life. For example, as large retail big box stores continue to expand further and dominate
local markets, they have become large employers in the regions in which they are located. However, these retailers (such as Walmart) have been criticized for paying
low wages as a part of a profit-enhancing strategy. Jobs in the service sector, including retail, hospitality, and tourism have been often criticized also as the kind of jobs that do not fit the "core
job" description.
