Back in 1965, the average U.S. CEO made just 21 times more than the typical worker.
By 2024, that number had exploded to 281:1 across the top 350 U.S. firms, according to the Economic Policy Institute (EPI).
“From 1978 to 2024, CEO compensation rose more than 1,000%, while typical worker pay grew only 26%,” said EPI economist Josh Bivens. “That’s not productivity—it’s power.”
CEO Today
October 21, 2025
Child care remains unaffordable for many, with the Economic Policy Institute putting the lowest cost per year of child care at just under $7,000, and the most at nearly $30,000.
In Business Madison
October 21, 2025
Economic Policy Institute, told the Times. “There’s been such a rapid shift in policy, rather than something cyclical or structural about the economy.”
Inc.
October 21, 2025
“There are already multiple avenues under federal law that allow for lower minimum wages for student learners and apprentices,” Nina Mast, an economic analyst for the Economic Policy Institute, previously told Orlando Weekly. “But this Florida bill really massively expands those classifications,” she said, speaking of Chamberlin’s earlier bill.
“I think that the concern is that it creates an opportunity for exploitation and to essentially find a rationale to pay basically anyone the lower minimum wage by characterizing your work as work-based learning,” Mast added.
Orlando Weekly
October 21, 2025
A Tale of Two Quintiles
The bottom fifth’s share of aggregate weekly wages has risen over the last two years, while the top fifth’s has fallen
Source: Economic Policy Institute, author’s analysis
Note: 12-month moving average, adjusted for annual population controls.
Bloomberg
October 21, 2025
The Economic Policy Institute recently found that Black women’s labor-force participation has declined faster than any other demographic group in 2025, particularly among middle-income professionals.
MinneapoliMedia
October 21, 2025
Samantha Sanders, director of government affairs and advocacy at the Economic Policy Institute, said having a political actor in the inspector general role would be “a real shame.”
IGs of the past have probed the department’s ability to investigate child labor claims, unemployment insurance fraud during the Covid-19 pandemic, and the Mine Safety and Health Administration.
“It’s always good to be asking questions about whether things are being done appropriately, if funds are accounted for, or if programs are effective,” she said. “You need a strong IG for that and there’s certainly a concern that D’Esposito might be the president’s attack dog.”
Bloomberg Law
October 21, 2025
“The fingerprints of Trump policy decisions are most clearly found in the distinct rise in federal [unemployment insurance] claims — claims filed specifically by workers laid off from federal agencies,” Elise Gould and Joe Fast of the Economic Policy Institute wrote last week. “However, we are also seeing troubling trends in UI claims in regular state programs, particularly in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area.”
“The shutdown (and potentially the attempted politicization of key government data-collection agencies) could leave policymakers flying blind just as the economy encounters real turbulence,” they cautioned.
Truthout
October 21, 2025
“Businesses don’t like (tariffs), but they can adjust to a reasonable tariff,” Hersh said. “(Trump has) created uncertainty for the economy that just has businesses sitting on their hands, not being able to make decisions about investment or to hire new workers.”
CNN.com
October 21, 2025