Trump Just Cut the Minimum Wage for Hundreds of Thousands of Private Sector Workers ArticleApril 11, 2025 Trump Just Cut the Minimum Wage for Hundreds of Thousands of Private Sector Workers By tearing up a Biden-era executive order that set a minimum wage for workers on federal contracts, the Trump administration has made some private sector workers vulnerable to pay cuts of up to 25 percent. Apr 11, 2025 Aurelia Glass
Project 2025 Would Cut Access to Overtime Pay ArticleAugust 8, 2024 Project 2025 Would Cut Access to Overtime Pay Aug 8, 2024 Lily Roberts
The Minimum Wage Is a Poverty Wage ArticleJuly 24, 2024 The Minimum Wage Is a Poverty Wage Jul 24, 2024 Kyle Ross
4 Things To Know About Sectoral Bargaining ArticleMarch 11, 2026 4 Things To Know About Sectoral Bargaining Sectoral bargaining strengthens worker voice, boosts pay and benefits, and supports a stronger middle class—and more of it can happen with the right policy changes. Mar 11, 2026 David Madland
How Union Bargaining Can Buoy Affordability In the NewsMarch 9, 2026 How Union Bargaining Can Buoy Affordability In an op-ed for Progressive Magazine, Jared Bernstein and David Madland argue that union bargaining is one of the most effective ways to address the affordability crisis. Mar 9, 2026 Progressive Magazine Jared Bernstein, David Madland
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
Modeling the Impact of Sectoral Bargaining for U.S. Workers ReportMarch 3, 2026 Modeling the Impact of Sectoral Bargaining for U.S. Workers New statistical modeling suggests that sectoral bargaining could more than double collective bargaining coverage in the United States and generate big gains in union density. Mar 3, 2026 Jared Bernstein, Aurelia Glass, David Madland, 1 More Daniel Posthumus
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
Why Gen Z Men Are the Most Pro-Union Generation in History: Unions Build Stable Finances ArticleDecember 3, 2025 Why Gen Z Men Are the Most Pro-Union Generation in History: Unions Build Stable Finances Gen Z men support unions more strongly than any other group, both today and when older generations were their age. Looking at the gains from union membership for young men, it’s easy to understand why. Dec 3, 2025 Aurelia Glass
Low Standards Hurt Security Officers’ Ability To Make Ends Meet ReportOctober 1, 2025 Low Standards Hurt Security Officers’ Ability To Make Ends Meet Flatlining wages and insufficient benefits force many security officers to rely on public supports such as Medicaid—and industry consolidation is making things worse. Oct 1, 2025 Aurelia Glass
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
Trump Takes Aim at Minimum Wage In the NewsSeptember 23, 2025 Trump Takes Aim at Minimum Wage In an op-ed for The Progressive, Aurelia Glass explains how Trump’s economic policy agenda will make life harder for working families. Sep 23, 2025 The Progressive Aurelia Glass
State Rideshare Collective Bargaining Policies Hold Great Promise ReportAugust 6, 2025 State Rideshare Collective Bargaining Policies Hold Great Promise A state model will test whether a simpler path to a union and sectoral bargaining can build power for Uber and Lyft drivers and improve jobs in the industry. Aug 6, 2025 David Madland
Despite Musk’s Departure, Trump’s War Against Unions and Workers Will Continue ArticleJune 23, 2025 Despite Musk’s Departure, Trump’s War Against Unions and Workers Will Continue While DOGE made headlines for firing tens of thousands of federal workers, Elon Musk's departure will not slow down the Trump administration’s efforts to end collective bargaining for more than 1 million workers, slash wage protections for hundreds of thousands, and muzzle a key agency protecting organizing rights. Jun 23, 2025 Aurelia Glass
The 2024 LGBTQI+ Wage Gap ArticleJune 17, 2025 The 2024 LGBTQI+ Wage Gap In recognition of LGBTQIA+ Equal Pay Awareness Day, new analysis from the Center for American Progress’ LGBTQI+ Community Survey shows that in 2024, LGBTQI+ households made just 85 cents for every dollar earned by non-LGBTQI+ households, equaling about $12,600 less per year. Jun 17, 2025 Sara Estep, Haley Norris
Trump Just Cut the Minimum Wage for Hundreds of Thousands of Private Sector Workers ArticleApril 11, 2025 Trump Just Cut the Minimum Wage for Hundreds of Thousands of Private Sector Workers By tearing up a Biden-era executive order that set a minimum wage for workers on federal contracts, the Trump administration has made some private sector workers vulnerable to pay cuts of up to 25 percent. Apr 11, 2025 Aurelia Glass
How State Spending Can Create a Good Jobs Economy In the NewsMarch 25, 2025 How State Spending Can Create a Good Jobs Economy In a report published by State Innovation Exchange (SiX), Karla Walter outlines six ways states can create a good jobs economy. Mar 25, 2025 SiX Karla Walter
Understanding the Working Class and the Challenges It Faces ArticleMarch 24, 2025 Understanding the Working Class and the Challenges It Faces The working class, a large majority of the workforce and its most racially and ethnically diverse group, faces low pay and higher unemployment. Mar 24, 2025 Aurelia Glass
The Trump Administration Has Made 36 Million Workers Newly Vulnerable to Discrimination and Harassment ArticleFebruary 27, 2025 The Trump Administration Has Made 36 Million Workers Newly Vulnerable to Discrimination and Harassment The Trump administration has put more than 36 million private sector workers at risk of unchecked discrimination and harassment, with hundreds of millions of taxpayer dollars now potentially pouring into discriminatory workplaces. Feb 27, 2025 Sara Estep
Disabled People Deserve to Make a Living Wage In the NewsJanuary 17, 2025 Disabled People Deserve to Make a Living Wage In an op-ed published by DC Journal, Mia Ives-Rublee explains why an archaic U.S. Department of Labor program involving 14(c) certificates is dangerous and should be phased out. Jan 17, 2025 DC Journal Mia Ives-Rublee
CAP Submits Comments Supporting Proposed Section 14(c) Rule To End Subminimum Wages for Disabled People ArticleJanuary 17, 2025 CAP Submits Comments Supporting Proposed Section 14(c) Rule To End Subminimum Wages for Disabled People The Center for American Progress submitted comments in support of the Department of Labor Wage and Hour Division’s new proposed rule to phase out Section 14(c) of the Fair Labor Standards Act, ensuring disabled workers are no longer paid subminimum wages. Jan 17, 2025 Mia Ives-Rublee
Too Many Airport Service Workers Earn Low Wages and Benefits ArticleJanuary 13, 2025 Too Many Airport Service Workers Earn Low Wages and Benefits New CAP analysis shows many essential airport service workers earn less than $15 per hour. Here’s how policymakers can fix that. Jan 13, 2025 Aurelia Glass, Karla Walter
Progressive Principles for the 2025 Tax Debate: Having No Deal Is Better Than Having a Bad Deal ReportDecember 9, 2024 Progressive Principles for the 2025 Tax Debate: Having No Deal Is Better Than Having a Bad Deal Facing the $4 trillion expiration of the Trump tax cuts next year, Congress must not greenlight a tax deal that will worsen income inequality and lose revenue. Dec 9, 2024 Brendan Duke, Bobby Kogan, Jessica Vela
Submitting Comments in Support of DOL Rule To Eliminate Section 14(c), Ending Subminimum Wages for Disabled People ArticleDecember 6, 2024 Submitting Comments in Support of DOL Rule To Eliminate Section 14(c), Ending Subminimum Wages for Disabled People This column provides background on Section 14(c) and guidance on how to submit a comment on the Biden administration’s proposed rule to eliminate subminimum wages for disabled people. Dec 6, 2024 Mia Ives-Rublee, Casey Doherty
Explaining Young Workers’ Support for Unions ArticleOctober 29, 2024 Explaining Young Workers’ Support for Unions Young workers today feel like they're starting from behind. For them, unions may be the answer to getting ahead. Oct 29, 2024 Aurelia Glass
What You Should Know About the 2023 Gender Wage Gap ReportOctober 22, 2024 What You Should Know About the 2023 Gender Wage Gap For the first time in two decades, the gender wage gap widened significantly in 2023—and between 2022 and 2023, the wage gap increased by 1 cent for women working full time, year round, to an average of 83 cents for every dollar men made. Oct 22, 2024 Amina Khalique
Americans’ Wages Are Higher Than They Have Ever Been, and Employment Is Near Its All-Time High ArticleOctober 17, 2024 Americans’ Wages Are Higher Than They Have Ever Been, and Employment Is Near Its All-Time High After adjusting for inflation, wages are higher than at any point in U.S. history, and after adjusting for age and sex, the percentage of the population that is employed is around its peak in U.S. history. Oct 17, 2024 Bobby Kogan, Brendan Duke
Project 2025 Would Cut Access to Overtime Pay ArticleAugust 8, 2024 Project 2025 Would Cut Access to Overtime Pay Project 2025 would make eligibility for overtime—also known as time-and-a-half pay—more confusing for workers to navigate and easier for employers to abuse. Aug 8, 2024 Lily Roberts
The Minimum Wage Is a Poverty Wage ArticleJuly 24, 2024 The Minimum Wage Is a Poverty Wage The federal minimum wage has lost the ability to keep workers out of poverty; but this November, voters in multiple states will have the chance to ensure better wages. Jul 24, 2024 Kyle Ross
Sen. Ted Cruz’s No Tax on Tips Act Does Little for Low- and Moderate-Wage Workers But Opens Door to Tax Abuse by Wealthy ArticleJuly 17, 2024 Sen. Ted Cruz’s No Tax on Tips Act Does Little for Low- and Moderate-Wage Workers But Opens Door to Tax Abuse by Wealthy This legislation may sound like pro-worker tax reform, but it’s just more of the 2017 tax law’s empty promises for workers and giveaways for the wealthy. Jul 17, 2024 Brendan Duke
4 Ways Unions Make Our Economy and Democracy Stronger ArticleJuly 11, 2024 4 Ways Unions Make Our Economy and Democracy Stronger Unions raise wages for workers, reduce inequality, increase voter turnout, and advance middle-class interests; policymakers should make strengthening unions a top priority. Jul 11, 2024 Sachin Shiva
Op-ed: Airport service workers demand better support in the workplace. It’s time we listen In the NewsJuly 1, 2024 Op-ed: Airport service workers demand better support in the workplace. It’s time we listen Karla Walter published an op-ed in Crain’s New York Business arguing for why airport service workers under the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey deserve better workplace standards. Jul 1, 2024 Crain's New York Business Karla Walter
Fact Sheet: Recommendations for the Department of Labor To Take Further Action on AI Fact SheetJune 17, 2024 Fact Sheet: Recommendations for the Department of Labor To Take Further Action on AI This fact sheet offers recommendations for how the Department of Labor can utilize its authorities to address artificial intelligence (AI). Jun 17, 2024 Reed Shaw
Wealth of Younger Americans Is Historically High ArticleApril 24, 2024 Wealth of Younger Americans Is Historically High Due to a historic economic recovery, inflation-adjusted wealth for younger Americans has grown 49 percent since right before the pandemic—a positive trend following decades of stagnation. Apr 24, 2024 Brendan Duke, Christian E. Weller
Fact Sheet: Building an Economy That Delivers for Women Fact SheetMarch 14, 2024 Fact Sheet: Building an Economy That Delivers for Women This fact sheet offers a brief summary of CAP’s “Playbook for the Advancement of Women in the Economy,” which provides federal and state policymakers with the tools they need to center women in their economic plans and grow the economy. Mar 14, 2024 Rose Khattar
Workers’ Paychecks Are Growing More Quickly Than Prices ReportJanuary 3, 2024 Workers’ Paychecks Are Growing More Quickly Than Prices Most workers’ wages are growing more quickly than prices, and the economic recovery following the COVID-19 recession has featured historically strong real wage growth. Jan 3, 2024 Brendan Duke
Point: Strong Prevailing Wage Standards Help Grow the Economy In the NewsOctober 19, 2023 Point: Strong Prevailing Wage Standards Help Grow the Economy In an InsideSources op-ed, Karla Walter argues why the Biden administration’s support of prevailing wage standards will help grow the middle class. Oct 19, 2023 InsideSources Karla Walter
What this year’s labor strikes mean for America’s working class In the NewsOctober 7, 2023 What this year’s labor strikes mean for America’s working class Former Rep. Andy Levin (D-MI) discusses the recent series of wins for unions across the country and what these changes mean for American workers. Oct 7, 2023 The Hill Rep. Andy Levin
6 Ways Bidenomics Is Delivering for Young People ArticleOctober 5, 2023 6 Ways Bidenomics Is Delivering for Young People The Biden administration’s actions to strengthen the economy are helping ensure young people have a brighter future. Oct 5, 2023 Jessica Vela, Crystal Weise
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.