Martha Ross is the vice president and director of the Brookings Metro program, where she also serves as a senior fellow. Her research primarily focuses on the labor market, emphasizing the experiences of low-wage workers and the employment challenges faced by young adults aged 18 to 24. Since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, Ross has highlighted the pandemic's disproportionate impact on these groups, particularly concerning housing instability and the need for equitable recovery strategies. Her work aims to create pathways to good jobs for young people, addressing systemic barriers in the labor market. Before her role at Brookings, Ross was a presidential management fellow at the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, concentrating on welfare policy. She has also served as the deputy director for the Greater Washington Research program at Brookings and worked as a program associate at the Advocacy Institute. Ross earned her master's degree in social service administration from the University of Chicago and her bachelor's degree from Colorado College, further enhancing her expertise in workforce development and labor market issues.