Labor Day by the Numbers
September 2, 2011
As the nation prepares for Labor Day, EPI has assembled a list of facts that detail the current state of the country's labor market.
Latest Research
Putting America back to work: Policies for job creation and stronger economic growth
September 2, 2011
This new EPI briefing paper outlines key criteria by which job-creation proposals should be judged and presents a list of proposals that would create a significant number of jobs.
Zero job growth made worse by drop in weekly hours
September 2, 2011
Today’s BLS report shows job growth is worse than in recent months and the nation continues to produce far fewer jobs than needed to meaningfully reduce the unemployment rate, which held steady at 9.1%.
Sustained, high joblessness causes lasting damage to wages, benefits, income, and wealth
August 31, 2011
In this new briefing paper, EPI President Lawrence Mishel and EPI labor economist Heidi Shierholz find that the pain caused by persistently high unemployment is not limited to workers who are currently unemployed but extends to the broader workforce and the country in general through lost wages, income and wealth, as well as higher poverty.
Job loss up in too many states
August 19, 2011
Released Friday, the Bureau of Labor Statistics' state employment data for July shows unemployment rates of 9 percent or higher in 20 states and the District of Columbia.
Crain and Crain’s OSHA cost estimates are way off base
August 18, 2011
A new EPI Issue Brief finds that the estimate by Nicole V. Crain and W. Mark Crain that Occupational Safety and Health Act regulations cost businesses $65 billion a year is vastly overstated and problematic.
The contraction in construction squeezed immigrants hardest
August 11, 2011
In this new briefing paper, EPI labor economist Heidi Shierholz examines how the Great Recession affected foreign-born and native-born construction workers.
Two-and-a-half years of a job-seeker’s ratio above 4-to-1
August 10, 2011
Wednesday's release from the Bureau of Labor Statistics shows the ratio of unemployed workers to job openings at 4.5-to-1 in June, an improvement from the revised May ratio of 4.6-to-1, but still extremely high.
The facts support raising revenues from the highest-income households
August 5, 2011
Andrew Fieldhouse, Economic Policy Institute/The Century Foundation Federal Budget Policy Analyst, and Isaac Shapiro, EPI Director of Regulatory Policy Research, discuss the key facts that indicate why taxes should be raised on the highest-income households.
Job growth still sputtering
August 5, 2011
Friday morning’s release of the Employment Situation report by the Bureau of Labor Statistics showed the addition of 117,000 jobs in July, a rate of job growth that keeps us firmly in low gear and still very much on track for persistent high unemployment.
Debt ceiling deal a threat to job creation, long-run economic growth
August 4, 2011
This new EPI/The Century Foundation issue brief finds that the spending cuts in the agreement to raise the debt ceiling, along with the failure to extend the payroll tax holiday and emergency unemployment insurance, will cost the economy 1.8 million jobs through 2012.
Slow economic growth raising unemployment rate
July 29, 2011
According to Friday’s report from the Bureau of Economic Analysis, gross domestic product (GDP) —the broadest measure of economic activity—grew at an annualized rate of 1.3% in the second quarter of 2011.
A targeted tax rebate is more effective than the payroll tax cut
July 28, 2011
EPI's Andrew Fieldhouse explains how a modified version of the lump-sum tax rebates that were part of the 2008 stimulus bill would cost the government roughly the same amount as the payroll tax cut, but generate more economic activity while alleviating poverty and helping working families.
A young person’s guide to Social Security
July 20, 2011
Written by young authors for young people, this comprehensive EPI booklet addresses the skepticism and lack of interest and understanding of Social Security.
Flaws call for rejecting Crain and Crain model
July 19, 2011
In this issue brief, EPI's John Irons and Andrew Green provide a a thorough critique of the deficient model the Small Business Administration researchers developed to estimate the cost of “economic regulations.”
Proposed NLRB rule changes would make workplace elections more democratic
July 18, 2011
In this policy memo, EPI's Gordon Lafer finds the National Labor Relations Board's proposed rules to be positive and important, if modest, steps toward making workplace elections more democratic.
J visas: Minimal oversight despite significant labor implications
July 14, 2011
EPI's Daniel Costa finds that the J visa Exchange Visitor Program gives U.S. employers significant financial incentives to hire foreign workers while providing them no labor protections. Furthermore, the U.S. collects little data on the workers and relies on employers and organizations sponsoring J visa holders to regulate themselves.
Major budget proposals pit public investment against vital services
July 13, 2011
In this policy memo, EPI's Ethan Pollack explains why the majority of proposed budget plans disproportionately hurt the NSD budget, the portion of the federal budget that funds public investment in infrastructure, education, science, and technology.
Job seekers ratio continues 29-month rut
July 12, 2011
The ratio of unemployed workers to job openings was 4.7-to-1 in May, as it was in April. The figure has been above 4.3-to-1 for nearly two-and-a-half years, meaning there has been no available job for at least three out of four unemployed workers.
Labor market in full retreat
July 8, 2011
With only 18,000 payroll jobs added, this morning’s release of the June 2011 Employment Situation report by the Bureau of Labor Statistics showed a labor market in full retreat.
Sign up to stay informed