Great Recession's Ghost: How Construction Worker Exodus Still Haunts Housing Market
A decade after the 2008 housing crash, regions hit hardest by the Great Recession face 17-20% fewer construction workers and significantly reduced housing production. This lasting workforce decline continues to restrict housing supply and drive up costs nationwide, despite strong demand.
U.S. Jobless Claims Drop as Labor Market Shows Continued Resilience
The U.S. labor market remains robust with unemployment claims falling to 213,000, defying expectations amid low layoff rates. While some major companies announce workforce reductions, the broader job market maintains stability with a 4% unemployment rate and steady job growth.
Spain Proposes Historic 37.5-Hour Work Week While Maintaining Full Salaries
Spanish government ministers have agreed to reduce the standard work week from 40 to 37.5 hours without cutting wages, marking a revolutionary shift in labor policy. The groundbreaking proposal, which still requires parliamentary approval, aims to enhance work-life balance and economic productivity across the nation.
UK's Four-Day Work Week Revolution: 200 Companies Lead the Way
Two hundred British companies, employing over 5,000 people, have permanently adopted a four-day work week without pay cuts. The movement spans multiple sectors, with marketing, charity, and tech firms leading the charge, while younger workers strongly support this shift toward better work-life balance.
Costco Workers Authorize Nationwide Strike as Contract Deadline Looms
Teamsters union members at Costco voted overwhelmingly to authorize a nationwide strike, with 85% supporting potential walkout ahead of January 31 contract expiration. The union, representing 18,000 workers, demands better compensation amid Costco's soaring profits of $7.4 billion.
The Enduring Value of Human Labor in an AGI Future
Despite concerns about AI automation, historical patterns and economic principles suggest human labor will remain valuable even with artificial general intelligence. From stable GDP shares to complementary productivity gains, multiple factors indicate a future of human-AI collaboration rather than wholesale worker displacement.
Historic Labor Reunion: SEIU Returns to AFL-CIO After 20-Year Separation
The Service Employees International Union's landmark decision to rejoin AFL-CIO marks a significant strengthening of organized labor in America. The reunion brings 2 million members under the federation's umbrella, establishing SEIU as its largest union amid declining private sector unionization rates.
The Great Decoupling Myth: Rethinking the Productivity-Wage Gap
Recent economic analysis challenges the popular narrative of a widening gap between worker productivity and compensation since the 1970s. The data reveals that when including total compensation and using consistent inflation measures, productivity and worker earnings have grown in tandem over the past 75 years.
Wage Theft Crisis: Over $1.5 Billion Recovered for US Workers in Recent Crackdown
Federal and state authorities have recovered more than $1.5 billion in stolen wages between 2021-2023, exposing widespread wage violations across industries. Despite this progress, experts warn that billions remain unrecovered as many workers face barriers to claiming their rightfully earned pay.
Southern Economic Renaissance: Historic Wage Growth Surpasses 89 Years of Inflation
Southern states have achieved unprecedented wage growth since 1935, with states like South Carolina and Georgia seeing real increases of over 150% above inflation. This dramatic transformation challenges historical wage patterns and outpaces Northern states' growth, highlighting a major shift in regional economic dynamics.