May’s Headline Jobs Numbers Mask Underlying Labor Market Slack ArticleJune 5, 2026 May’s Headline Jobs Numbers Mask Underlying Labor Market Slack The May 2026 jobs report shows continued job growth and a stable unemployment rate, but there are also signs that labor market weakness—including labor underutilization—is being felt by a growing number of Americans. Jun 5, 2026 Jazmine Amoako, Sara Estep
Unions Build Wealth for All Americans ArticleMay 28, 2026 Unions Build Wealth for All Americans New CAP analysis of the Survey of Income and Program Participation highlights that households with a union member have roughly two times the wealth of households without a union member. May 28, 2026 Jazmine Amoako, David Madland, Christian E. Weller
2026 CAP IDEAS Conference Past EventMay 19, 2026 2026 CAP IDEAS Conference The Center for American Progress’ signature event, now celebrating its 15th year, where CAP convenes the big thinkers and doers on the center-left for a day of not only identifying the problems facing Americans, but also sharing solutions to improve the lives of all Americans. Online via Zoom May 19, 2026
Women Workers Are a Lifeline for the Economy ArticleMay 8, 2026 Women Workers Are a Lifeline for the Economy As Mother’s Day approaches, April jobs data highlight that women have been a bright spot in a volatile labor market, and underneath that trend are working mothers’ labor force participation rates. May 8, 2026 Sara Estep, Kennedy Andara
How Market-Based Sectoral Pay Standards Raise Wages and Improve Affordability ReportMay 5, 2026 How Market-Based Sectoral Pay Standards Raise Wages and Improve Affordability Policymakers can boost wages, improve affordability, and address public challenges by extending prevailing wage and other pay standards to the private sector. May 5, 2026 Karla Walter
The American Franchise Act Would Harm Workers and Small Businesses ArticleApril 29, 2026 The American Franchise Act Would Harm Workers and Small Businesses Federal lawmakers are debating a bill that would let corporate franchisors off the hook when they undermine workers’ rights and leave small franchisees solely liable for labor law violations. Apr 29, 2026 Karla Walter
The Trump Administration’s Policies Have Hurt Growth, Jobs, and Prices ArticleApril 15, 2026 The Trump Administration’s Policies Have Hurt Growth, Jobs, and Prices A new macroeconomic simulation suggests that the Trump administration’s agenda has generated slower growth, fewer jobs, and faster inflation. Apr 15, 2026 Jared Bernstein
Volatile Job Numbers Mask Stagnant Labor Market in the Trump Administration’s Economy: Analysis of the March 2026 Jobs Report ArticleApril 3, 2026 Volatile Job Numbers Mask Stagnant Labor Market in the Trump Administration’s Economy: Analysis of the March 2026 Jobs Report Job growth over the past year has been flat, even as jobs numbers rebounded in March 2026, resulting in persistent struggles for young workers, workers with college degrees, and Black workers. Apr 3, 2026 Christian E. Weller, Kennedy Andara
One Year After ‘Liberation Day,’ American Workers Are Feeling the Negative Effects of the Trump Administration’s Tariffs ArticleMarch 17, 2026 One Year After ‘Liberation Day,’ American Workers Are Feeling the Negative Effects of the Trump Administration’s Tariffs The Trump administration’s tariff agenda has resulted in blue-collar job losses in nearly every state while failing to boost manufacturing or close the trade deficit in goods. Mar 17, 2026 Ryan Mulholland, Kennedy Andara
No More Reacting: An Argument for a Clean Industrial Policy—and Against Competitiveness as an Organizing Economic Principle ReportMarch 12, 2026 No More Reacting: An Argument for a Clean Industrial Policy—and Against Competitiveness as an Organizing Economic Principle Moving beyond the failures of the Trump administration, the United States will need to embrace a strategy for fighting the climate crisis that prioritizes values such as support for working people and establishes a precedent for international collaboration. Mar 12, 2026 Mike Williams, Ryan Mulholland
Immigrants Make the Labor Market Great ArticleMarch 6, 2026 Immigrants Make the Labor Market Great CAP analysis of the February 2026 employment report shows that President Trump’s promises to native-born workers have yet to materialize while reduced immigration is poised to have a negative effect overall on employment and wages in the long run. Mar 6, 2026 Sara Estep, Kennedy Andara
Working-Class People Struggle To Find Opportunities in Trump’s Economy ArticleFebruary 11, 2026 Working-Class People Struggle To Find Opportunities in Trump’s Economy Today’s jobs report shows that despite January job growth coming in above expectations, blue-collar workers are still experiencing an employment slowdown rarely seen outside of recessions while the working class only captured a fraction of the year’s growth. Feb 11, 2026 Sara Estep, Kennedy Andara
NLRB-Overseen Union Elections Fell in 2025 Amid Trump Administration Attacks ArticleFebruary 11, 2026 NLRB-Overseen Union Elections Fell in 2025 Amid Trump Administration Attacks As Trump attacked the National Labor Relations Board in 2025, the number of private sector union elections that the agency oversaw fell by 30 percent. Feb 11, 2026 Aurelia Glass
What do the events of this year’s World Economic Forum signal about the future of the global order? In the NewsJanuary 28, 2026 What do the events of this year’s World Economic Forum signal about the future of the global order? In a symposium published by NOTUS, Ryan Mulholland argues that the world’s economic future is now being shaped without the United States’ involvement, thanks to Trump’s incessant tariff threats. Jan 28, 2026 NOTUS Ryan Mulholland
ONE YEAR IN: The ‘Trump Effect’ Is a Bust for the Working Class In the NewsJanuary 15, 2026 ONE YEAR IN: The ‘Trump Effect’ Is a Bust for the Working Class In an op-ed published by InsideSources, Aurelia Glass argues that Trump’s policy agenda has made it significantly harder for struggling Americans to meet their families' basic needs. Jan 15, 2026 InsideSources Aurelia Glass
December Jobs Day Closes a Year of a Stalling Labor Market ArticleJanuary 9, 2026 December Jobs Day Closes a Year of a Stalling Labor Market Workers were in a weaker position in 2025 than in 2024, feeling the consequences of the Trump economy. Jan 9, 2026 Christian E. Weller
November’s Jobs Report Hints at Labor Market Weakness Ahead ArticleDecember 16, 2025 November’s Jobs Report Hints at Labor Market Weakness Ahead November’s jobs report, released today, showed signs of weakness—particularly among groups that often foreshadow broader labor-market cooling, such as workers of color and older workers. Dec 16, 2025 Sara Estep, Christian E. Weller
Year 1 of the Second Trump Administration Made the Working Class Weaker ArticleDecember 15, 2025 Year 1 of the Second Trump Administration Made the Working Class Weaker The Trump administration’s actions are shrinking jobs, slowing wage growth, and raising living costs for the working class. Dec 15, 2025 Aurelia Glass
State and Local Policymakers Can Raise Standards and Build Power for Workers ReportDecember 10, 2025 State and Local Policymakers Can Raise Standards and Build Power for Workers States and cities can advance these 21 ideas in 2026 to build worker power, support unionized workers, and uphold workforce stability and standards. Dec 10, 2025 Karla Walter, David Madland
In a Stagnating Job Market, Job Seekers Are Struggling To Find Opportunities ArticleNovember 20, 2025 In a Stagnating Job Market, Job Seekers Are Struggling To Find Opportunities Delayed September 2025 jobs data release reveals the hardships of finding a job in Trump’s economy, especially for people of color. Nov 20, 2025 Kennedy Andara, Sara Estep
Union Trigger Laws 101: How States Can Protect Workers if Federal Labor Law Falls ReportNovember 19, 2025 Union Trigger Laws 101: How States Can Protect Workers if Federal Labor Law Falls Trump and conservative courts are threatening to end Americans’ right to unionize. Here is how cities and states can prepare if the National Labor Relations Act is struck down or ceases to be enforced. Nov 19, 2025 Karla Walter, David Madland
ACA Premium Spikes Will Derail Disabled People’s Careers ArticleNovember 6, 2025 ACA Premium Spikes Will Derail Disabled People’s Careers The expiration of the enhanced premium tax credits threatens the economic stability and health coverage of self-employed Americans with disabilities. Nov 6, 2025 Molly Weston Williamson, Natasha Murphy, Mia Ives-Rublee
The Job Market Slowdown Continues ArticleOctober 10, 2025 The Job Market Slowdown Continues The labor market likely continued to slow in September. Oct 10, 2025 Christian E. Weller
The Next Bureau of Labor Statistics Commissioner Must Restore Trust in the Agency While Managing Fiscal Constraints ArticleOctober 7, 2025 The Next Bureau of Labor Statistics Commissioner Must Restore Trust in the Agency While Managing Fiscal Constraints The next BLS commissioner will have the power to fill an unusually high number of vacancies at a time when the agency’s funding struggles could reduce data quality. Oct 7, 2025 Sara Estep, Kyle Ross
What To Know Before September’s Jobs Day Report: Falling Wages and Stalling Employment Growth ArticleSeptember 30, 2025 What To Know Before September’s Jobs Day Report: Falling Wages and Stalling Employment Growth In August, women held up the economy while their wages faltered in industries such as health care. Will the September Employment Situation report show more of the same? Sep 30, 2025 Sara Estep, Kennedy Andara, Amina Khalique
Gen Z men are facing a surprise workforce crisis In the NewsSeptember 20, 2025 Gen Z men are facing a surprise workforce crisis Sara Estep writes in MSNBC about the workforce crisis of Gen Z men. Sep 20, 2025 MSNBC Sara Estep
Good Jobs for Government Workers Improve Public Services ReportSeptember 15, 2025 Good Jobs for Government Workers Improve Public Services By maintaining fair working conditions for government workers, state and local policymakers can increase productivity, improve public outcomes, support stable revenues, and attract the next generation of public servants. Sep 15, 2025 Karla Walter, Sachin Shiva
Trump’s Trade War Squeezes Middle-Class Manufacturing Employment ArticleSeptember 5, 2025 Trump’s Trade War Squeezes Middle-Class Manufacturing Employment American manufacturing employment is shrinking in response to Trump’s tariffs. Sep 5, 2025 Kennedy Andara, Sara Estep
Gen Z Men at Work: 10 Facts About Young Men’s Employment Trends ReportAugust 26, 2025 Gen Z Men at Work: 10 Facts About Young Men’s Employment Trends Original CAP analysis of U.S. men’s labor market trends finds that while young men are outperforming previous generations by several measures, they continue to face challenges, especially in labor force participation. Aug 26, 2025 Sara Estep, Christian E. Weller
The Trump Administration Is Blocking Wind Power Projects That Would Create Thousands of Jobs Fact SheetAugust 25, 2025 The Trump Administration Is Blocking Wind Power Projects That Would Create Thousands of Jobs More than 17,000 offshore jobs and thousands more onshore are connected to wind power projects that are at risk from the Trump administration. Aug 25, 2025 Mariel Lutz, Alia Hidayat, Kate Petosa
The Trump Administration and Congress’ Attacks on Wind Power Are Killing Thousands of Jobs and Risk Thousands More ReportJuly 24, 2025 The Trump Administration and Congress’ Attacks on Wind Power Are Killing Thousands of Jobs and Risk Thousands More The Trump administration and congressional Republicans are attacking the entire wind power industry and throwing into question more than 17,000 offshore jobs and likely thousands more onshore. Jul 24, 2025 Mariel Lutz, Alia Hidayat, Kate Petosa
Crushing the Commonwealth: Virginians Share How the Trump Administration’s Policies Are Hurting Them, Their Livelihoods, and the Virginia Economy Past EventJune 23, 2025 Crushing the Commonwealth: Virginians Share How the Trump Administration’s Policies Are Hurting Them, Their Livelihoods, and the Virginia Economy Please join the Center for American Progress for the next in a series of virtual events highlighting the impact that DOGE's cuts are having on the lives of everyday Americans; this event will focus on the Trump administration's impacts on Virginia. Online only Jun 23, 2025
The Trump Administration Ended Collective Bargaining for 1 Million Federal Workers ArticleMay 22, 2025 The Trump Administration Ended Collective Bargaining for 1 Million Federal Workers The Trump administration claims to speak for American workers, but it took away the collective bargaining rights of 1 in every 14 workers protected by a union contract. May 22, 2025 Aurelia Glass
President Trump Says He Wants More U.S. Shipbuilding—Here’s How To Do It Well ReportMay 21, 2025 President Trump Says He Wants More U.S. Shipbuilding—Here’s How To Do It Well To improve U.S. shipbuilding capacity, policymakers should learn from a successful shipbuilding program of the past, using public investment, guaranteed demand, and cooperation with the private sector to create good jobs and bolster competitiveness. May 21, 2025 Sophie Cohen, Ryan Mulholland
Betraying veterans on education: Congress is opening the gates for predators to profit In the NewsMay 8, 2025 Betraying veterans on education: Congress is opening the gates for predators to profit In an op-ed published by Stars and Stripes, Madison Weiss explains how congressional Republicans' plan to eliminate the 90/10 rule would open the door to deceptive college marketing schemes that target veterans. May 8, 2025 Stars and Stripes Madison Weiss
How Retaliation Against the Trump Administration’s Trade War Makes Each State Vulnerable ArticleApril 17, 2025 How Retaliation Against the Trump Administration’s Trade War Makes Each State Vulnerable Retaliatory tariffs against the United States from China, the European Union, and Canada are likely to punish critical export industries in every state. Apr 17, 2025 Natalie Baker, Ryan Mulholland, Mimla Wardak
Tackling Climate Change and Environmental Injustice IssueNovember 1, 2021 Tackling Climate Change and Environmental Injustice We pursue climate action that meets the crisis’s urgency, creates good-quality jobs, benefits disadvantaged communities, and restores U.S. credibility on the global stage.
Restoring Social Trust in Democracy IssueNovember 1, 2021 Restoring Social Trust in Democracy Democracy is under attack at home and abroad. We must act to ensure it is accessible to all, accountable, and can serve as a force of good.
Building an Economy for All IssueNovember 1, 2021 Building an Economy for All Economic growth must be built on the foundation of a strong and secure middle class so that all Americans benefit from growth.