Behind the Scenes at Jackson Hole 2025

Hi! My name is Angela Anderson, creative director at the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City. Last month, I joined the team responsible for hosting the External LinkJackson Hole Economic Policy Symposium in Jackson Hole, Wyo. Equipped with a smart phone, I was charged with documenting this year’s event.  Take a look at some of the behind-the-scenes pictures I captured over the course of the three-day program.

This year’s event, themed “External LinkLabor Markets in Transition: Demographics, Productivity, and Macroeconomic Policy,” brought together dozens of central bankers, policymakers academics and economists from around the world. To help foster the open discussion that has been so critical to the symposium’s success, attendance at the event is limited, so I didn’t know what to expect and was excited to see what the program itself looked like. Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell External Linkgave opening remarks, discussing monetary policy, inflation, labor markets, and the results of the Fed’s policy framework review.

Approximately 140 people attended this year’s symposium. As of 2025, 154 authors have presented at the event and representatives from 70 countries have participated. With a reputation for fostering meaningful dialogue and collaboration among policymakers on impactful topics, this year’s program was no different. Some insights discussed included:

• Credibility and Expectations: Institutional credibility —and well-anchored inflation expectations— play a central role in shaping monetary policy outcomes.
• Demographics as a Macro Driver: Population aging and slowing population growth across the world will influence labor markets, long-run growth, and the balance of supply and demand for sovereign debt.
• Population Migration: Changes in the mobility of the population across states could influence the U.S. economy’s ability to respond to shocks.
• Implications of Artificial Intelligence: AI could reshape labor markets and the innovation ecosystem, including talent flows and firm dynamics, not just routine tasks.

The event is one of the most anticipated central banking conferences, with dozens of global media outlets covering the symposium, as well as conducting interviews with attendees. Media is invited to participate in the event to ensure transparency and accountability but conduct interviews outside the event to not overwhelm or influence the proceedings.

Planning for the symposium occurs year-round and requires coordination between multiple divisions at the Kansas City Fed. Work doesn’t stop once the team gets to Jackson Hole. During the event, Kansas City Fed staff typically start their day at sunrise and continue working late into the night. They assemble program materials, execute event logistics and coordinate with local officials and onsite staff to serve as the primary point of contact for attendees and their guests.

Since 1982, the event has been held at Jackson Lake Lodge, a National Park Service facility. The Bank receives no special consideration from the Lodge, which remains open to the public throughout the two days of the symposium. The Bank recovers much of the cost associated with the symposium through registration fees paid by all participants – including media. Attendees are also responsible for their own travel, lodging and personal expenses.

According to External LinkIn Late August, the event was moved to Jackson Hole, Wyo., precisely for its setting in the Grand Teton Mountain Range, providing plenty of scenic views and a variety of outdoor activities. Before my time at the symposium ended, I made sure to capture one last picture of the mountains. Having not been here before, I knew to expect natural beauty but was blown away by how inspiring it was – a perfect environment for the deep thinking and connection that comes from this event.