Karla Walter is the senior director of Employment Policy at the Center for American Progress. Walter focuses primarily on improving the economic security of American workers by increasing workers’ wages and benefits, promoting workplace protections, and advancing workers’ rights at work. Prior to joining American Progress, Walter was a research analyst at Good Jobs First, providing support to officials, policy research organizations, and grassroots advocacy groups striving to make state and local economic development subsidies more accountable and effective. She has co-authored several studies that promote economic development policies that meet workers’ needs and advocate for greater corporate accountability. Previously, she worked as a legislative aide for Wisconsin State Rep. Jennifer Shilling. Her work has been referenced in The New York Times and other newspapers. Walter earned a master’s degree in urban planning and policy from the University of Illinois at Chicago.
Prevailing Wages Can Build Good Jobs Into America’s Electric Vehicle Industry
By instituting prevailing wage policies, policymakers can ensure that the jobs they subsidize in one of America's newest industries offer fair wages and benefits.
4 Strategies to Create Good Jobs, Boost Equity With Federal Infrastructure Funds
Karla Walter outlines four strategies for states to ensure new federal infrastructure funds from the IIJA create good jobs and boost equity in local communities.
When contractors pay bad wages, the public shoulders the burden
Karla Walter highlights how new regulations governing the Davis-Bacon and Related Acts will ensure that workers on construction projects receiving federal funding are paid fairly.
New Opportunities for the Biden-Harris Administration To Create Good Jobs for LGBTQI+ Workers
For decades, the U.S. economy has left LGBTQI+ individuals and their families behind, but the Biden-Harris administration can use its existing authority to uplift LGBTQI+ workers.
Federal Contractors Are Violating Workers’ Rights and Harming the U.S. Government
New analysis from the Center for American Progress Action Fund finds that government contractors that break workplace laws frequently perform poorly and waste public resources.
Raising Wages and Narrowing Pay Gaps With Service Sector Prevailing Wage Laws
Prevailing wage laws for government service contracts can uplift wages and benefits; reduce racial pay gaps; and could have a range of positive effects on worker turnover, service quality, local budgets, and collective bargaining.
