Economic Policy Institute

This morning, the Department of Labor (DOL) released some of the last unemployment insurance (UI) claims data of the Trump era. That means this release helps us understand the economy President Biden just inherited. Here’s what it shows. Another 1.3 million people applied for UI benefits last week, including 900,000 people who applied for regular […]

Author Archives: Economic Policy Institute

Heidi Shierholz: President Biden inherits a weak labor market due to inadequate COVID-19 response

Heidi Shierholz: First UI claims of 2021 are still higher than the worst of the Great Recession

Heidi Shierholz: Unemployment insurance claims continue to climb

Report: Corporate power and legal challenges have exploited weaknesses in labor law for over fifty years

Unemployment claims hit highest level in months

EPI: Congress must urgently provide $3 trillion of fiscal relief to stop the economic bleeding and build a strong recovery

Investment in infrastructure and clean energy would create at least 6.9 million good jobs

Union workers are paid 11.2% more, have greater access to health insurance and paid sick days than their nonunion counterparts

Unemployment insurance provides far too little to pay basic expenses for working families across the country

Report:Trump’s trade policies have cost thousands of U.S. manufacturing jobs

The coronavirus shock was historically large—and the bounceback has already likely stalled

Thea M. Lee: The GOP HEALS Act fails to heal people harmed by the coronavirus, will cost millions of jobs, and protects bad employers

Racism and economic inequality have predisposed black workers be most hurt by coronavirus pandemic

Over 180 groups urge House & Senate leadership to pass $500 billion in unrestricted aid to states, territories, and local governments

Heidi Shierholz | A portrait of disaster: Unemployment insurance claims jump from 211,000 to 6.6 million in 3 weeks

Direct federal grants to state and local governments are the most progressive and effective way to fund public investments

Report: NLRB’s General Counsel erroneously misclassifies Uber drivers as independent contractors

The Raise the Wage Act of 2019 would give nearly 40 million workers a raise

Teachers are paid almost 19 percent less than similar workers

Celine McNicholas: In Murphy Oil decision, SCOTUS deals significant blow to workers’ fundamental rights