Media clips

• As Child Labor Violations Surge, States Work to Loosen Protections
  “This has to be viewed on largely as simply the latest multi-industry attempt and moment of opportunity that they’re seeing where they have very significant influence in some state legislatures to, once again, try to roll back standards,” Jennifer Sherer, Economic Policy Institute senior state policy coordinator, told Cheddar News.

  The number of instances of child labor exploitation has surged in recent years. There were 1,012 minors found to be employed in violation of labor laws in 2015 and 355 employed in violation of hazardous occupation orders that year, according to the Economic Policy Institute. Hazardous occupation orders are intended to prevent kids from working dangerous jobs like mining, roofing, or working with heavy machinery. By 2022, 3,876 minors were found to be working in violation of labor laws and 688 in violation of hazardous occupation orders. 
  Cheddar May 12, 2023
• Here’s how much you need to make to be in the top 1%, 5%, and 10% in the US — and 4 tips to help you get there

  Landing in the top 10% is a fairly attainable goal for upwardly mobile Americans. A study by the Economic Policy Institute (EPI) found that the average earnings of those in the top 10% were roughly $173,000 in 2020.

  MoneyWise May 12, 2023
• Mulroy moves forward on effort to protect workers from wage exploitation

  The people most affected by wage exploitation include Ivan Flores, who worked 17-hour days for a local landscaper but never got paid overtime.

  In fact, between 2017 and 2020, the Economic Policy Institute estimated U.S. workers lost out on $3 billion in wages due to unfair business practices. Often, the workers are in fields like food service and construction.

  WREG May 12, 2023
• Fed Warned to Stop ‘Needless Rate Hikes’ as Inflation Cools for 10th Straight Month

  Heidi Shierholz, president of the Economic Policy Institute, called the new CPI data “good news for working people,” noting that “inflation is nearly back to pre-recession rates, while the unemployment rate is at 50-year lows.”

  Common Dreams May 12, 2023
• $7.25 federal minimum wage is a ‘national disgrace,’ says Sen. Bernie Sanders, backing push for $17 per hour

  Economic research backs up the idea, according to Heidi Shierholz, president of the Economic Policy Institute, who spoked at Sanders’ event.

  Rising inequality means income has shifted away from low- and middle-income workers who are more likely to spend it, she said.

  The decline of the real value of the minimum wage is now more than 40% below where it was at its peak 55 years ago, Shierholz said.

  “Having a weak minimum wage is bad for the overall economy,” Shierholz added.

  In addition to reducing inequality, raising the minimum wage would also reduce pover

  CNBC May 12, 2023
• Early child care workers ask Texas Legislature for $2.3 billion in funding

  The average annual cost for child care in Texas is $9,324 for an infant and $7,062 for a 4-year-old, according to the Economic Policy Institute.

  Austin American-Statesman May 12, 2023
• Highlighting ongoing educator shortages during Teacher Appreciation Week

  According to the Economic Policy Institute, nationally, the U.S. will be short more than 300,000 teachers by 2024.

  CBS 58 May 12, 2023
• ‘People are making a big deal about the increase in wage growth’: Economists cast a skeptical eye over ‘strong’ jobs report

  “While there is zero sign of a recession right now, if we do have a recession, it will be because the Fed raised rates too aggressively,” said Heidi Shierholz, a senior economist and director of policy at the progressive Economic Policy Institute, a Washington, D.C.-based think tank.

  “It would undo a great deal of the enormous gains, including the equity gains, that have occurred in the current recovery,” she added.

  MarketWatch May 12, 2023
• Jobless claims are up, but unemployment is still low. What does that mean?

  Now, none of them is saying the Federal Reserve has achieved that elusive soft landing in its effort to balance interest rate increases with economic growth. But Shierholz at the Economic Policy Institute said so far, that does seem to be where we’re headed.

  “We see inflation coming down and unemployment not yet going up,” she said.

  Marketplace May 12, 2023
• Virginia teacher pay falls further behind the national average

  Another study from the Economic Policy Institute shows Virginia has the third least competitive teacher pay in the country when compared to other fields that require a similar level of education.

  WTVR May 12, 2023