Sixteen million workers were represented by unions in 2024. However, there were millions more who would have joined a union but couldn’t. As the Economic Policy Institute observes: “The disconnect between the growing interest in unionization and declining unionization rates can be explained by the fact that there are powerful forces blocking the will of workers: aggressive opposition from employers combined with labor law that is so weak that it doesn’t truly protect workers’ right to organize.”
San Diego Union Tribune
June 5, 2025
With religious exempt status, companies are not required to offer employee benefits like unemployment insurance. Employment law advocates worry that expanding the religious tax exemption could be detrimental to the unemployment system.
The Economic Policy Institute said a large base of employers is necessary to spread out the costs and benefits of the system. By collecting funds from many employers during periods of stable employment, the system ensures it can pay out benefits during periods of high unemployment.
Courthouse News Service
June 5, 2025
- Economic Policy Institute: “Work requirements effectively function like a cut to programs.” EPI explained that “while work requirements do not reliably increase employment, they do significantly increase the administrative burden and costs of applying for safety net programs. This increased administrative burden, in turn, reduces access and take-up.” EPI further explained, “In many cases, the sheer amount of additional administrative burdens levied on adults seeking benefits, and on case workers screening to ensure that work requirements are met, is a major driver in the decline in participation.” [Economic Policy Institute, 1/24/25]
Media Matters
June 4, 2025
The effects will be far-reaching. Eligible “tipped” workers will likely be defined as those in the restaurant and service industries. According to the Economic Policy Institute, they are overwhelmingly minority, women, single parents and younger than 35. Most would welcome the financial help, but is this the right kind of help?
The legislation in Congress overlooks an opportunity to do something more for this group: save for retirement.
June 4, 2025
According to the left-leaning Economic Policy Institute think tank the bill would raise public debt “by over $3 trillion in coming years (and over $5 trillion over the next decade if provisions are made permanent rather than phasing out).”
Newsweek
June 4, 2025
A new joint report by Rutgers and Northwestern universities found that the staffing levels at the federal labor offices handling minimum wage and overtime laws are at their lowest levels in decades, which the authors of the study said open the door to wage theft and other workplace abuses.
The staffing decline is nothing new — the numbers have been declining since 2000 to reach their lowest levels since the 1970s, according to the left-leaning Economic Policy Institute, a think-tank based in Washington.
NorthJersey.com
June 4, 2025
A panel of expert judges – including respected leaders from across industries – will evaluate the submissions. Confirmed judges include…Dr. Heidi Shierholz, president of the Economic Policy Institute.
U.S. News & World Report
June 4, 2025
According to data from the Economic Policy Institute, those with a bachelor’s degree earn roughly 20% more in hourly wages than those without, and master’s degree holders earn an additional 20% on average.
“Real hourly wages have grown both for workers with just a bachelor’s degree and a master’s degree by about the same amount—about 35% over the last 33 years,” says Economic Policy Institute senior economist Elise Gould, explaining that her data set goes back to 1992.
Fast Company
June 2, 2025
San Francisco Chronicle
June 2, 2025
Cites EPI chart [paywall].
Paul Krugman Substack
June 2, 2025