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This paper examines the role of intermediary organisations that act as mediators between job seekers and employers in the US and strategies for expanding and strengthening their efforts to improve the employment prospects of low-income workers. The author begins with an examination of the labour market and economic trends driving the expansion of intermediary activities and organisations in recent years. Three distinct trends emerge: changes in labour markets and the macro-economy that have resulted in greater difficulties for low-skilled workers in finding work and for employers in recruiting and retaining qualified workers; new directions in social and employment policy in which work is central to anti-poverty policies; and lessons from past welfare and workforce programs that support the emphasis on work-centred policies, responsiveness to employer needs and labour market changes, and job retention and advancement. These factors have led to greater experimentation with institutions and policies to improve the efficiency and equity of labour markets. The types of labour market intermediaries and their roles are defined and the characteristics of effective labour market intermediaries are assessed. The paper concludes with recommendations for policymakers and practitioners concerned with the development of these organisations.