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
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
5 Facts From the 2022 Wage Gap Data ArticleSeptember 20, 2023 5 Facts From the 2022 Wage Gap Data New data show that in 2022, women working full time, year-round typically earned 84 cents for every dollar men made, and when comparing among all workers, including those who work part time and for part of the year, women typically made 78 cents. Sep 20, 2023 Isabela Salas-Betsch
5 Reasons Automakers Must Provide Good Jobs and Lower Vehicle Emissions ArticleSeptember 12, 2023 5 Reasons Automakers Must Provide Good Jobs and Lower Vehicle Emissions In the face of demands for better jobs and stronger health protections, some automakers claim they can’t improve job quality and lower vehicle emissions—but they have the resources to support middle-class-led economic growth and clean up their vehicle fleets. Sep 12, 2023 Leo Banks, Karla Walter, Anona Neal
Opinion: Big Three automakers need to step up for the workers who keep them profitable In the NewsSeptember 8, 2023 Opinion: Big Three automakers need to step up for the workers who keep them profitable In a MarketWatch op-ed, Mike Williams argues why the Big Three automakers need to work with the UAW to do right by autoworkers and to help fight against climate change. Sep 8, 2023 MarketWatch Mike Williams
Momentum for Worker Standards Boards Continues To Grow ArticleSeptember 7, 2023 Momentum for Worker Standards Boards Continues To Grow Since 2018, six states and three local governments have enacted laws that bring workers and employers together to recommend standards for sectors of the economy. Sep 7, 2023 Aurelia Glass, David Madland
Barbie and the Gender Wage Gap VideoAugust 9, 2023 Barbie and the Gender Wage Gap Despite decades of efforts to boost women’s representation throughout the U.S. economy, women still face a pay gap in nearly every single occupation—even high-paying ones. Aug 9, 2023 Sara Estep, Rose Khattar, Charlie Schuyler, 3 More Hai-Lam Phan, Matthew Gossage, Toni Pandolfo
What Barbie Can Teach Us About the Gender Wage Gap ArticleJuly 26, 2023 What Barbie Can Teach Us About the Gender Wage Gap Despite decades of efforts to boost women’s representation throughout the U.S. economy, women still face a pay gap in nearly every single occupation—even high-paying ones. Jul 26, 2023 Rose Khattar, Sara Estep, Lily Roberts, 1 More Maggie Jo Buchanan
Raising Wages, Closing Pay Gaps: Tackling Fair Pay for Black Women Past EventJuly 24, 2023 Raising Wages, Closing Pay Gaps: Tackling Fair Pay for Black Women Tune in below to watch a discussion on the connection between raising the minimum wage and Black Women’s Equal Pay Day. Online only Jul 24, 2023
Higher State-Level Minimum Wages Aid in Faster Jobs Recovery ArticleJuly 24, 2023 Higher State-Level Minimum Wages Aid in Faster Jobs Recovery Since January 2021, employment in the leisure and hospitality industry has recovered faster in states with minimum wages higher than the $7.25 federal minimum. Jul 24, 2023 Jessica Vela
Raising the Minimum Wage Would Be an Investment in Growing the Middle Class ArticleJuly 20, 2023 Raising the Minimum Wage Would Be an Investment in Growing the Middle Class A $15 minimum wage could benefit nearly 40 million workers and provide some of the lowest-wage workers with an average annual wage boost of about $6,000. Jul 20, 2023 Rose Khattar, Sara Estep, Lily Roberts
Why Federal Pay Data Collection Is Critical to Equity ArticleJuly 18, 2023 Why Federal Pay Data Collection Is Critical to Equity Kalpana Kotagal’s confirmation to the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission offers promise for the reinstatement of federal pay data collection, a critical pay equity tool discontinued in 2019. Jul 18, 2023 Isabela Salas-Betsch, Lauren Hoffman
Universal Paid Sick Time Would Strengthen Public Health and Benefit Businesses ReportMay 15, 2023 Universal Paid Sick Time Would Strengthen Public Health and Benefit Businesses A national, guaranteed right to paid sick time is essential for the well-being of workers and their families and would have profound positive impacts on public health and businesses. May 15, 2023 Isabela Salas-Betsch
States Can Improve Child Care Assistance Programs Through Cost Modeling ReportMarch 9, 2023 States Can Improve Child Care Assistance Programs Through Cost Modeling The current process states use for setting child care subsidy reimbursement rates only looks backward, building low wages and scarce resources into the future of child care. Mar 9, 2023 Maureen Coffey
Airport Service Workers Deserve Good Jobs ReportMarch 7, 2023 Airport Service Workers Deserve Good Jobs Raising pay and benefits for workers in federally supported airports will stabilize the air industry. Mar 7, 2023 Karla Walter, Aurelia Glass
Historic New EU Law Part of Growing Push for Sectoral Bargaining In the NewsJanuary 19, 2023 Historic New EU Law Part of Growing Push for Sectoral Bargaining David Madland explains how the European Union's new law aims to improve working conditions by increasing minimum wages and dramatically increasing collective bargaining. Jan 19, 2023 OnLabor David Madland
Revolutionizing the Workplace: Why Long COVID and the Increase of Disabled Workers Require a New Approach ReportDecember 21, 2022 Revolutionizing the Workplace: Why Long COVID and the Increase of Disabled Workers Require a New Approach Using new data from the U.S. Census Bureau to examine the impacts of long COVID on the labor market, this report recommends that employers, unions, and policymakers create better workplaces for disabled workers and all workers. Dec 21, 2022 Mia Ives-Rublee, Rose Khattar, Anona Neal
7 Facts on Racial Equity and the Economic Recovery ArticleNovember 17, 2022 7 Facts on Racial Equity and the Economic Recovery The economic recovery has supported workers of color, but inequities persist, and the Federal Reserve risks undoing the equitable economic gains achieved. Nov 17, 2022 Justin Dorazio
Ending the subminimum wage for tipped workers would benefit everyone In the NewsNovember 4, 2022 Ending the subminimum wage for tipped workers would benefit everyone As voters in Portland, Maine, and Washington, D.C., prepare to head to the ballot box to decide whether to eliminate the subminimum wage for tipped workers, Justin Schweitzer explains why all workers—tipped and untipped—should be paid at least the state minimum wage. Nov 4, 2022 MarketWatch Justin Schweitzer
Recent Legislative and Executive Acts Represent Promise for Women’s Economic Security ArticleOctober 20, 2022 Recent Legislative and Executive Acts Represent Promise for Women’s Economic Security Women and their families should find some current financial pressures—fueled partly by the gender wage gap—alleviated by recent policy wins, particularly if policymakers prioritize implementing new pathways to good jobs for women in the years ahead. Oct 20, 2022 Lauren Hoffman, Rose Khattar, Beth Almeida, 1 More Isabela Salas-Betsch
The Wage Gap Persists—But Recent Reforms Are Making a Difference In the NewsOctober 11, 2022 The Wage Gap Persists—But Recent Reforms Are Making a Difference Rose Khattar and Lauren Hoffman discuss how, in addition to recent reforms such as the Inflation Reduction Act and the student loan relief plan, more measures are necessary to finally close the pay gap that continues to limit economic opportunity for many women. Oct 11, 2022 Ms. Magazine Rose Khattar, Lauren Hoffman
Opinion: Hispanic and Latino workers deserve equal economic opportunity, not a return to the pre-pandemic status quo In the NewsOctober 7, 2022 Opinion: Hispanic and Latino workers deserve equal economic opportunity, not a return to the pre-pandemic status quo Rose Khattar and Jessica Vela discuss how equitable implementation of the Biden administration's major economic accomplishments, such as the Inflation Reduction Act, can help better support Hispanic and Latino workers. Oct 7, 2022 MarketWatch Rose Khattar, Jessica Vela
Data on Poverty in the United States DashboardSeptember 19, 2022 Data on Poverty in the United States The Center for American Progress’ new poverty data project contains U.S. Census Bureau data on the national, state, and congressional district levels, all in one place. Below, users can explore data on poverty and more than a dozen other topics that measure the health of the economy, as well as identify potential solutions to the problems these data reveal. Sep 19, 2022
Reconciliation can be a game changer for pro-worker policies In the NewsAugust 29, 2022 Reconciliation can be a game changer for pro-worker policies David Madland argues that the Inflation Reduction Act has opened the door for future pro-worker policies to pass through the budget reconciliation process. Aug 29, 2022 The Hill David Madland
Rubio’s Plan Would Hurt Women’s Economic Security, Not Offer Real Paid Leave ArticleAugust 5, 2022 Rubio’s Plan Would Hurt Women’s Economic Security, Not Offer Real Paid Leave Sen. Marco Rubio’s purported paid parental leave plan would hurt, rather than help, women by cutting the retirement benefits they need. Aug 5, 2022 Molly Weston Williamson
Still Underpaid and Unequal ReportJuly 19, 2022 Still Underpaid and Unequal New, comprehensive data on child care workers in center-based programs—analyzing their demographics, education, experience, and wages—reveal widening pay gaps and inequality. Jul 19, 2022 Maureen Coffey
Latino Workers Continue To Experience a Shortage of Good Jobs ArticleJuly 18, 2022 Latino Workers Continue To Experience a Shortage of Good Jobs Although Hispanic and Latino workers have high employment rates in the United States, labor market experiences differ substantially within this community, with Mexican, Guatemalan, Honduran, and Salvadoran Americans experiencing significant and intersecting gender and ethnic wage gaps. Jul 18, 2022 Rose Khattar, Jessica Vela, Lorena Roque
It’s Long Past Time To Increase the Federal Minimum Wage ArticleJuly 7, 2022 It’s Long Past Time To Increase the Federal Minimum Wage This month marks 13 years since the federal minimum wage was increased. The lack of an increase during this period has disproportionately harmed women and people of color. Jul 7, 2022 Ashfaq Khan, Rose Khattar
Prevailing Wages Can Build Good Jobs Into America’s Electric Vehicle Industry ReportJuly 6, 2022 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. Jul 6, 2022 Aurelia Glass, David Madland, Karla Walter
The Federal Reserve Must Be Careful Not To Jeopardize the Strong Economic Recovery ReportJune 13, 2022 The Federal Reserve Must Be Careful Not To Jeopardize the Strong Economic Recovery If the U.S. Federal Reserve acts too aggressively, it could risk a recession and threaten the economy’s strength and the labor market’s momentum. Jun 13, 2022 Christian E. Weller, Rose Khattar
Fact Sheet: LGBT Workers in the Labor Market Fact SheetJune 1, 2022 Fact Sheet: LGBT Workers in the Labor Market New data from the Census Bureau reveal economic insecurity and labor market gaps experienced by LGBT people compared with non-LGBT populations. Jun 1, 2022 Caroline Medina, Lindsay Mahowald, Rose Khattar, 1 More Aurelia Glass
Proven State and Local Strategies To Create Good Jobs With IIJA Infrastructure Funds ReportMay 31, 2022 Proven State and Local Strategies To Create Good Jobs With IIJA Infrastructure Funds This report outlines four proven ways to ensure that new federal infrastructure investments create good jobs, boost equity, and support good value. May 31, 2022 Karla Walter
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.