The Conference Board

The Conference Board, Inc.
Company type	501(c)(3) non-profit organization
Industry	Business membership and research
Founded	1916
Founder	Frederick P. Fish, Magnus W. Alexander
Headquarters	New York City, United States
Area served	Worldwide (over 60 nations)
Products	Economic indicators, business research, conferences, peer-learning forums
Website	https://www.conference-board.org

The Conference Board, Inc. operates as a 501(c)(3) non-profit entity focused on business membership and research, representing over 1,000 corporations and organizations from both the public and private sectors across 60 nations.

This organization hosts conferences and peer-learning forums, undertakes economic and business management studies, and issues widely recognized economic indicators.

History

Established in 1916 under the name National Industrial Conference Board (NICB), the entity was created during a period of intense labor-management conflict in the United States, influenced by incidents such as the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire and Ludlow Massacre. In 1915, executives from leading companies and industry groups gathered to confront labor disputes and mounting public scrutiny.

Among the initial founders were prominent figures like former AT&T president Frederick P. Fish and General Electric official Magnus W. Alexander, who served as the first president. While they initially endorsed the open-shop movement, they soon acknowledged national unions as enduring economic forces, promoting negotiation over confrontation.

During the First World War, the NICB played an advisory role to the National War Labor Board to help sustain industrial harmony, with its collaborative recommendations being fully embraced. Although initially viewed skeptically as an “employers union,” this non-profit also represented forward-thinking business interests by producing comprehensive research on American economic and social matters.

Early significant publications included Woman Workers and Labor Supply, The Eight-Hour Day Defined, the U.S. Cost of Living Index, and analyses of Workers' Compensation legislation.

Funded primarily through contributions from members—many from Fortune 500 firms—the organization distanced itself from direct industry lobbying by the 1930s. Under Virgil Jordan’s leadership beginning in 1932, it created a Bureau of Economic Audit and Control to deliver impartial research on issues such as unemployment, pensions, and healthcare during the Great Depression era. Both labor unions and corporations became participants in accessing its studies and networks.

Recognized as a reliable source for data and trend analysis second only to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, The Conference Board broadened its international presence after World War II. It established The Conference Board of Canada in 1954 (which became independent in 1981) and hosted its inaugural overseas CEO-level gathering in England in 1959.

In 1970, it adopted the name The Conference Board following the 1967 introduction of its signature U.S. Consumer Confidence Index—a monthly survey measuring household economic outlook. In 1976, it launched the Measure of CEO Confidence survey in collaboration with The Business Council.

In 1996, The Conference Board was designated by the U.S. Department of Commerce to produce and disseminate the nation’s leading economic indicator series.

Continuing its global expansion, The Conference Board opened its China Center for Economic and Business Studies in Beijing in 2006 to assist senior executives from multinational corporations.

In 2015, it merged with the Committee for Economic Development (CED), incorporating CED as its U.S.-focused public policy division. The organization currently maintains offices located in New York, Brussels, Beijing, Hong Kong, and Singapore.

Regional centers

The Conference Board maintains five regional hubs across the United States, headquartered in New York City, with specialized focuses including:

Economy, Strategy, and Finance: encompassing global economic trends, innovation, digital advancements, labor market dynamics, and consumer behavior patterns
Marketing and Communications: covering corporate messaging, consumer insights, and marketing tactics
Governance and Sustainability: addressing corporate governance practices, sustainability initiatives, social responsibility, and philanthropic efforts
Human Capital: concentrating on leadership development, learning programs, talent recruitment, employee engagement, diversity and inclusion initiatives, HR technology solutions, workforce analytics, and coaching methodologies
Committee for Economic Development (Public Policy): focusing on regulatory matters, healthcare reform, educational policies, infrastructure development, tax legislation, fiscal stability, and immigration issues

Economic indicators and data

The Conference Board issues several prominent economic indicators that are widely referenced by investors and business executives:

U.S. Consumer Confidence Index – A monthly survey initiated in 1967 involving 5,000 households that serves as a primary barometer of consumer sentiment in the United States.
CEO Confidence Survey – Conducted quarterly to gauge chief executives’ perspectives on their respective sectors and the broader economy; this survey is also performed twice yearly in Europe and China.
CHRO Confidence Index – A quarterly assessment capturing U.S. chief human resource officers’ outlook on hiring trends and employee retention.
CCO+CMO Meter – A periodic measure tracking the influence and value generated by leaders in marketing and communications.
US Job Satisfaction Survey – An annual study since 1987 evaluating employee satisfaction across 26 dimensions such as compensation, promotion opportunities, work-life balance, and workplace conditions.
US Salary Increase Budgets Survey – Ongoing since 1985, this survey collects data from compensation professionals regarding planned salary adjustments and structural pay changes; in 2023, 409 organizations contributed.
Leading Economic Indexes – Since 1995, The Conference Board has published monthly leading, coincident, and lagging economic indexes for the U.S., with expansions covering Australia, Brazil, China, the Euro Area, France, Germany, India, Japan, Mexico, South Korea, Spain, and the United Kingdom.
The Conference Board-Lightcast Help Wanted OnLine® (HWOL) Index – A monthly indicator tracking online job vacancy trends throughout the U.S., compiling real-time data from more than 50,000 employment websites; it replaces the former newspaper-based Help Wanted Advertising Index.

Other research

The Conference Board’s research findings and expert commentary regularly feature in international business media outlets including the Financial Times, Wall Street Journal, CNBC, Bloomberg News, Forbes, and Fortune.

Notable publications include:

C-Suite Outlook – An annual survey identifying primary challenges and strategic priorities for CEOs and senior executives across various industries.
Toward Stakeholder Capitalism – A comprehensive analysis exploring the transition toward stakeholder capitalism and its implications for executive leadership.
Board Effectiveness – Published yearly in collaboration with PwC, this report focuses on improving corporate board performance.
ESG benchmarking – Reports that examine trends related to CEO succession planning, executive pay structures, board governance practices, and shareholder voting behavior.
Annual industry- and seniority-specific surveys on U.S. salary increase budgets.
Surveys targeting chief human resource officers that explore workforce dynamics and workplace trends.
In-depth analyses on significant public policy topics impacting business sectors such as Social Security reform, infrastructure investment, cybersecurity challenges, healthcare policy changes, labor shortages, national debt concerns, energy transition strategies, and child care support.

Membership and professional growth

The organization established innovative professional councils aimed at supporting business executives as they navigate economic fluctuations. These exclusive, member-led councils engage approximately 2,500 leaders each year, offering dedicated networks for particular C-suite positions such as chief financial officers, chief human resources officers, chief legal officers, and corporate treasurers. Additionally, there are specialized groups centered on emerging fields like artificial intelligence.

Honors

The Conference Board has received numerous accolades, including:

Best Companies to Work for in New York State 2024
Crain's Best Places to Work in NYC for 2023 and 2024
Best Work-Life Balance 2024
Best Company Outlook for both 2023 and 2024
Best Places to Work: New York 2023
Best Company Perks & Benefits in 2023 and 2024
Happiest Employees awards for 2023 and 2024
Best Compensation recognition in 2023
Best Company Culture award in 2023
Best Leadership Teams for 2023 and 2024