Labor & Economic News - Institute for Research on Labor & Employment Library

Teacher Evaluation, Development, and Dismissal in California

noreply@blogger.com (Janice's Labor, Work, Economics News Blog) — Thu, 09 May 2013 18:19:00 +0000

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.

The Impact of City Contracting Set-Asides on Black Self-Employment and Employment

noreply@blogger.com (Janice's Labor, Work, Economics News Blog) — Thu, 09 May 2013 18:09:00 +0000

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.

Home builders struggling to find enough construction workers

noreply@blogger.com (Janice's Labor, Work, Economics News Blog) — Wed, 08 May 2013 17:24:00 +0000

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

In U.S., Poor Health Tied to Big Losses for All Job Types

noreply@blogger.com (Janice's Labor, Work, Economics News Blog) — Wed, 08 May 2013 17:06:00 +0000

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.

Going to College? Think Hard About Your Major and Your Career After You Graduate

noreply@blogger.com (Janice's Labor, Work, Economics News Blog) — Wed, 08 May 2013 16:54:00 +0000

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.

Four ways to help the long-term unemployed

noreply@blogger.com (Janice's Labor, Work, Economics News Blog) — Thu, 25 Apr 2013 16:47:00 +0000

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.

An Uneven Recovery, 2009-2011

noreply@blogger.com (Janice's Labor, Work, Economics News Blog) — Wed, 24 Apr 2013 22:44:00 +0000

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...

Here's How Little Math Americans Actually Use at Work

noreply@blogger.com (Janice's Labor, Work, Economics News Blog) — Wed, 24 Apr 2013 22:31:00 +0000

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

Help Wanted, But Only Part Time

noreply@blogger.com (Janice's Labor, Work, Economics News Blog) — Wed, 24 Apr 2013 22:29:00 +0000

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'

Who actually creates jobs: Start-ups, small businesses or big corporations?

noreply@blogger.com (Janice's Labor, Work, Economics News Blog) — Wed, 24 Apr 2013 21:26:00 +0000

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?

‘I’m not ready to sign up for this yet’

noreply@blogger.com (Janice's Labor, Work, Economics News Blog) — Wed, 24 Apr 2013 15:33:00 +0000

‘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.

Public employee unions need to pay up

noreply@blogger.com (Janice's Labor, Work, Economics News Blog) — Wed, 24 Apr 2013 15:31:00 +0000

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.

Chinese magazine's report on abuses at labor camp adds fuel to debate on reform

noreply@blogger.com (Janice's Labor, Work, Economics News Blog) — Tue, 09 Apr 2013 16:49:00 +0000

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.

Tracking workers' every move can boost productivity — and stress Tracking workers' every move can boost productivity — and stress

noreply@blogger.com (Janice's Labor, Work, Economics News Blog) — Mon, 08 Apr 2013 23:02:00 +0000

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.

As employers push efficiency, the daily grind wears down workers

noreply@blogger.com (Janice's Labor, Work, Economics News Blog) — Mon, 08 Apr 2013 22:57:00 +0000

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.

Green jobs grow four times faster than others

noreply@blogger.com (Janice's Labor, Work, Economics News Blog) — Tue, 19 Mar 2013 23:03:00 +0000

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.)

How to Fix America's Wealth Inequality: Teach Americans to Be Cheap

noreply@blogger.com (Janice's Labor, Work, Economics News Blog) — Tue, 12 Mar 2013 23:54:00 +0000

How to Fix America's Wealth Inequality: Teach Americans to Be Cheap
Today, wealth equality is closely tied to income equality. But in the long run, it's all about thrift, frugality, and saving -- in other words, teaching a consumer nation a lesson in cheapness.

SEC Charges Illinois With Fraud Over Pensions

noreply@blogger.com (Janice's Labor, Work, Economics News Blog) — Tue, 12 Mar 2013 18:37:00 +0000

SEC Charges Illinois With Fraud Over Pensions
For only the second time ever, the Securities and Exchange Commission is charging a state with fraud, for allegedly misleading investors about ...

Could This Robot Save Your Job?

noreply@blogger.com (Janice's Labor, Work, Economics News Blog) — Tue, 12 Mar 2013 18:30:00 +0000

Could This Robot Save Your Job?

Baxter is billed by his makers as a "collaborative manufacturing robot." It can work alongside humans to do simple, repetitive tasks. While some analysts fear that automation like this will kill jobs, Baxter's inventor says such robots could preserve jobs by helping the U.S. remain competitive.

Are There Too Many Ph.D.s And Not Enough Jobs?

noreply@blogger.com (Janice's Labor, Work, Economics News Blog) — Tue, 12 Mar 2013 18:22:00 +0000

Are There Too Many Ph.D.s And Not Enough Jobs?
Our country needs more people with science, math and engineering degrees — at least, that's the common refrain among politicians and educators. Yet new numbers show people with doctoral degrees in those subjects increasingly struggle to find employment.

Germany asks: Should we have a minimum wage?

noreply@blogger.com (Janice's Labor, Work, Economics News Blog) — Wed, 27 Feb 2013 19:34:00 +0000

Germany asks: Should we have a minimum wage?
As the federal minimum wage has become a big topic of debate in the U.S., German politicians are in their own heated dispute over whether to have a minimum wage at all.

If inflation is zero, why does my paycheck feel like it's shrinking?

noreply@blogger.com (Janice's Labor, Work, Economics News Blog) — Wed, 27 Feb 2013 19:32:00 +0000

If inflation is zero, why does my paycheck feel like it's shrinking?
Accordingto the current Consumer Price Index, the inflation rate is zero percent. But for many people, their cost of living doesn't reflect the data's averages.

Working From Home: The End Of Productivity Or The Future Of Work?

noreply@blogger.com (Janice's Labor, Work, Economics News Blog) — Wed, 27 Feb 2013 19:14:00 +0000

Working From Home: The End Of Productivity Or The Future Of Work?
The decision by Yahoo to stop its remote work policy seems to fly in the face of recent trends that allow more working-from-home, not less.

Technology Upends Another Industry: Homebuilding

noreply@blogger.com (Janice's Labor, Work, Economics News Blog) — Wed, 27 Feb 2013 19:12:00 +0000

Technology Upends Another Industry: Homebuilding

A Maryland building firm automated its home design process, and now it's looking to use another company to assemble houses on-site from parts. The firm has half as many workers as before the recession.

States in Recovery: Manufacturing

noreply@blogger.com (Janice's Labor, Work, Economics News Blog) — Wed, 27 Feb 2013 19:10:00 +0000

States in Recovery: Manufacturing
President Obama wants to spark a national competition to create a network of manufacturing “innovation institutes.” It is part of his plan to jumpstart a sector that still needs to add 1.5 million jobs to make up for those lost during the recession, but critics say it’s the wrong role for the federal government.