Labor & Economic News Blog
Compiled by Janice Kimball and the staff of the IRLE Library
Thursday, May 09, 2013
Teacher Evaluation, Development, and Dismissal in California
Teacher Evaluation, Development, and Dismissal in California
Teachers are the single most important predictor of student achievement. Each year, California school administrators conduct thousands of evaluations to assess teaching performance. These assessments serve as the first step in identifying the teachers that are exemplary, satisfactory, or in need of professional development or removal.
# posted by Janice's Labor, Work, Economics News Blog @ 11:19 AM
The Impact of City Contracting Set-Asides on Black Self-Employment and Employment
The Impact of City Contracting Set-Asides on Black Self-Employment and Employment
NBER
Aaron Chatterji, Kenneth Chay, and Robert Fairlie
ask how programs reserving a proportion of government contracts for
minority-owned businesses (set-asides) that many U.S. cities put in
place during the 1980s affected employment and self-employment among
African-Americans. They find that the black-white gap in business
ownership rates fell 3 percentage points after the introduction of these
programs. Blacks' gains in employment were concentrated in industries
heavily affected by set-asides, and the programs mainly benefited those
who were better educated.
# posted by Janice's Labor, Work, Economics News Blog @ 11:09 AM
Wednesday, May 08, 2013
Home builders struggling to find enough construction workers
Home builders struggling to find enough construction workers
The real estate bust idled hundreds of thousands of construction workers. Now, with housing on the mend, builders are hiring again
# posted by Janice's Labor, Work, Economics News Blog @ 10:24 AM
In U.S., Poor Health Tied to Big Losses for All Job Types
In U.S., Poor Health Tied to Big Losses for All Job Types
The annual cost to the U.S. in lost productivity due to absenteeism tied to poor health ranges from $160 million among agricultural workers to $24.2 billion among professionals.
# posted by Janice's Labor, Work, Economics News Blog @ 10:06 AM
Going to College? Think Hard About Your Major and Your Career After You Graduate
Going to College? Think Hard About Your Major and Your Career After You Graduate
A college degree may not be worth it for everyone. Isabel Sawhill and Stephanie Owen write that the value of a college degree depends on choice of major and future occupation, among other factors.
# posted by Janice's Labor, Work, Economics News Blog @ 9:54 AM
Thursday, April 25, 2013
Four ways to help the long-term unemployed
Four ways to help the long-term unemployed
There are all sorts of smaller ideas out there, from hiring to wage insurance. But nothing works like full employment.
# posted by Janice's Labor, Work, Economics News Blog @ 9:47 AM
Wednesday, April 24, 2013
An Uneven Recovery, 2009-2011
A Rise in Wealth for the Wealthy; Declines for the Lower 93% | Pew ...
An Uneven Recovery, 2009-2011 ... net worth of households in the lower 93% dropped by 4%, according to a Pew Research Center analysis of...
# posted by Janice's Labor, Work, Economics News Blog @ 3:44 PM
Here's How Little Math Americans Actually Use at Work
Here's How Little Math Americans Actually Use at Work
Less than a quarter of employees do any calculations more complicated than basic fractions, and blue-collar workers generally do more
# posted by Janice's Labor, Work, Economics News Blog @ 3:31 PM
Help Wanted, But Only Part Time
Help Wanted, But Only Part Time
In today's economy, many people in search of work can only find part-time jobs. The Bureau of Labor Statistics finds the number of 'involuntary'
# posted by Janice's Labor, Work, Economics News Blog @ 3:29 PM
Who actually creates jobs: Start-ups, small businesses or big corporations?
Who actually creates jobs: Start-ups, small businesses or big corporations?
Small firms collectively employ the most people, big firms punch above their weight, and new firms create the most new jobs. So, which ones hold the key to economic recovery?
# posted by Janice's Labor, Work, Economics News Blog @ 2:26 PM
‘I’m not ready to sign up for this yet’
‘I’m not ready to sign up for this yet’
A food-stamp recruiter in Florida reaches out to seniors, but some are reluctant to accept government assistance.
# posted by Janice's Labor, Work, Economics News Blog @ 8:33 AM
Public employee unions need to pay up
It's time for public employee unions to wake up and contribute more to members' health and retirement burdens or risk more onerous givebacks.
# posted by Janice's Labor, Work, Economics News Blog @ 8:31 AM
Tuesday, April 09, 2013
Chinese magazine's report on abuses at labor camp adds fuel to debate on reform
Chinese magazine's report on abuses at labor camp adds fuel to debate on reform
A Chinese magazine’s report on abuses at a notorious labor camp is
giving reformers added ammunition in a campaign to abolish a part of the
penal system that China’s government says needs change.
# posted by Janice's Labor, Work, Economics News Blog @ 9:49 AM
Monday, April 08, 2013
Tracking workers' every move can boost productivity — and stress Tracking workers' every move can boost productivity — and stress
Tracking workers' every move can boost productivity — and stress
Employers count keystrokes, read emails and monitor personal social media accounts. They time bathroom breaks. The cost of efficiency may be worker satisfaction.
# posted by Janice's Labor, Work, Economics News Blog @ 4:02 PM
As employers push efficiency, the daily grind wears down workers
As employers push efficiency, the daily grind wears down workers
Many businesses no longer want long-term relationships with their employees, who must now work harder without getting financial and psychological rewards that were once routine.
# posted by Janice's Labor, Work, Economics News Blog @ 3:57 PM
Tuesday, March 19, 2013
Green jobs grow four times faster than others
Green jobs grow four times faster than others
Clean-energy jobs make up a small part of U.S. employment, but a new
federal report shows they are growing much faster than other work, even
healthcare. The nation had about 3.4 million green energy jobs in 2011, the
Bureau of Labor Statistics said Tuesday in its second annual and final
look at this emerging category of employment. (More on why it's the last
report later.)
# posted by Janice's Labor, Work, Economics News Blog @ 4:03 PM
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