Small companies — which already qualify for reduced fines — have been granted even larger breaks under the Trump administration, according to an analysis by the Economic Policy Institute.
In July, the Labor Department changed its policies to allow companies with 25 or fewer employees to receive automatic penalty reductions of 70 percent, and to allow reductions for companies without a history of violations or for those that took immediate steps to remedy an unsafe situation.
Texas Public Radio
March 9, 2026
chief executive pay spiked by 1,094%, according to the Economic Policy Institute-which means the average CEO earns 281 times the…[paywall].
Fast Company
March 9, 2026
In fact, the Economic Policy Institute reported in 2024 that teachers were being paid about 73 cents for every dollar paid to a professional working in another field with an equivalent degree.
Parenting Patch
March 9, 2026
Teachers and other education professionals are typically paid by state and local governments, where wage growth tends to lag the private sector. While those roles often offer job stability, defined pensions and summer breaks, a 2025 report from the Economic Policy Institute finds teachers earn less than other college-educated workers with comparable levels of education and experience.
CNBC
March 9, 2026
“We’ve seen job growth slow measurably,” confirms Elise Gould, senior economist at the Economic Policy Institute (EPI), whose research areas include jobs and wages. “The hires rate is [still] very weak. I would actually say it’s depressed,” she adds, noting that the unemployment rate — particularly among young people — has risen steadily over the past couple of years.Put simply? “If people are trying to get a job, it’s harder,” says Gould.
Indeed.com
March 9, 2026
In significant news for gig workers, the Labor Department has proposed a rule that would make it easier for companies to classify workers as independent contractors, the Wall Street Journal reported. The proposal drew swift backlash from worker advocates and Democrats, who warn it could leave more people ineligible for minimum wage and overtime protections. “Employers will take advantage of anything that makes it easier to classify workers as independent contractors,” said Samantha Sanders of the Economic Policy Institute.
Forbes
March 9, 2026
GLTC isn’t alone in facing the challenges of bus driver shortages. Nationwide, the number of transit and intercity bus drivers decreased about 8.5% from 2020 to 2024, from about 163,000 drivers to 149,000, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ employment data. School systems have encountered a similar shortage, tracking a 9.5% decrease in bus drivers from 2019 to 2025, according to the Economic Policy Institute.
Cardinal News (Virginia)
March 9, 2026
The revival story of Detroit hasn’t fully translated into financial security for many Black women. The Economic Policy Institute noted that local Black household incomes still remain below the national Black median. Affordable housing helps, but neighborhood disinvestment and limited access to capital keep upward momentum from spreading widely.
Far & Wide
March 9, 2026
The challenges described in the AARP survey come as more older workers are seeking to stay employed and businesses should be more reliant on talent of all ages. Because Americans are having fewer children, the U.S.–born labor force is shrinking, according to studies from the Economic Policy Institute and others. On the other end, the people are living healthier, longer, which should provide opportunities for people 50-plus to continue their careers.
AARP
March 9, 2026