Despite its unique history, Boston Public Schools isn’t alone in trying to diversify its workforce. Eleven states have pledged to increase their numbers of teachers of color to match student populations by 2040, but a recent report predicted that these gaps will persist or grow through 2060.
Boston’s push is occurring against the backdrop of a nationwide shortage of teaching candidates. From 2008 to 2015, there was a 15 percent drop in the number of students who earned an education degree, according to a 2019 study from the Economic Policy Institute.
The 74
September 9, 2020
Between 2016 and 2018, the most recent year for which data is available, the U.S. lost 1,800 factories to offshoring and outsourcing, according to the progressive Economic Policy Institute
Bloomberg
September 9, 2020
Less government spending in turn feeds a negative economic spiral, driven by lost government worker incomes and reduced purchases of private goods and services. So lower government spending adds up to large direct and indirect job losses. In June, the Economic Policy Institute estimated that “without aid to state and local governments, 5.3 million workers will likely lose their jobs by the end of 2021.”
Forbes
September 9, 2020
The racial wealth gap is an issue that has persisted from generation to generation in the U.S. The Economic Policy Institute stated in 2017 that average wealth for white families was seven times higher than average wealth for Black families. The median wealth, or wealth in the family in the exact middle of the overall distribution, of white families was 12 times higher than that of Black families.
Forbes
September 9, 2020
Let’s see … we’re almost entering month seven of the pandemic. So it makes sense that many furloughs are now becoming layoffs. But Heidi Shierholz, senior economist and director of policy at the Economic Policy Institute, said we’re at a new turning point. Job losses are spreading from industries decimated by lockdowns — like hospitality and tourism — and into others that weren’t initially as sensitive.
“Businesses that maybe thought they were going to be fine, unaffected by any social distancing measures are looking up and saying ‘Yeah, we didn’t have a problem then, but now we’re just seeing demand for goods and services has just been depressed,’” Shierholz said.
She said at this point in the pandemic, minimizing job loss is about boosting spending — something that became more difficult for families once that extra $600-a-week in unemployment benefits went away.
Marketplace
September 9, 2020
But childcare providers perform this crucial service for pennies on the dollar. The average daycare operator grosses just $48,000 a year, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, whereas the standard daycare worker makes just $24,000. Usually these jobs come with little or no paid time off, and no employee-sponsored healthcare. Only 15% of childcare workers receive health insurance sponsored by their employer versus 50% of workers from other occupations, according to a 2015 Economic Policy Institute report. The lack of healthcare benefits is problematic in normal times, as children unwittingly bring their stomach bug or pink eye to their daycares. But during a pandemic, it’s potentially lethal. Daycare providers who make an average of just $11.65 an hour may be unable to risk seeking treatment for any disease, much less COVID-19.
Time
September 9, 2020
A report by Yale economists found no such evidence, however, the Economic Policy Institute did find evidence that the spending from that extra unemployment insurance was supporting about 5 million jobs.
WPIX-TV (NYC)
September 9, 2020
Bloomberg News reports that the Biden campaign is set to roll out new plans aimed to keep manufacturing jobs in America. The Economic Policy Institute estimates that nearly eighteen hundred american factories closed between 2016 and 2018.
WJXX-TV (Jacksonville)
September 9, 2020
Sappi North America’s 2019 Sustainability Report quotes an October 2019 paper by Josh Bivens of the Economic Policy Institute, which found that 100 jobs in paper and pulp mills support 468 jobs in related industries, such as logging and transportation, and 218 in service industries, such as restaurants and retail. This economic ripple effect in turn supports local schools, infrastructure, and organizations.
Maine Magazine
September 9, 2020