Josh Williams, the founder of BW Research and the firm’s Chief Research Officer, has been leading and directing applied economic and market research for 30 years. He founded BW Research in 2006 and previously served as the Director of Research for a West Coast-based market research firm. Josh leads BW’s West Coast economic and market research practice, focusing on continually improving the quality of both research design and analytical insights, while developing a team of like-minded researchers. His expertise is in evaluating and applying the key elements of economic modeling, survey research, and empirical data to research questions around increasing economic activity, improving employment outcomes, identifying innovative opportunities, and expanding opportunity to underserved populations.
Josh has led several research studies and advised multiple clients on the impact that automation and artificial intelligence are having on the world of work. This research has included recommendations for educators and employers seeking to identify and prepare the next generation of workers, as well as the creation of new metrics and indicators to improve our understanding of the evolving demand for talent. His work has also examined the role that innovation and emerging technologies can play in different regions and their potential impact on employment, supply chains, and business creation and expansion. Recently, his work has examined how career pathways and employment opportunities are evolving in transitioning industries, such as healthcare, advanced manufacturing, construction, and energy.
Driven by an unrelenting focus to develop a firm that produces research that empowers decision-makers, expands economic opportunity, grows businesses, and improves communities, Josh is committed to producing accurate and robust measures of outcomes we can work to improve.
Josh holds his B.A. in International Economics from George Washington University and his M.A. in Economics from California State University of Long Beach. He has been a keynote speaker at numerous conferences and seminars and has served as an advisor to several boards and community organizations. When he is not actively involved in research, coaching rugby, or spending time with his family, he tries to spend more time in the ocean or the mountains.