Demographic Cliff: U.S. Colleges Face Crisis as Student Population Set to Drop 15%
A looming demographic shift threatens U.S. higher education as projections show 650,000 fewer college-age students annually by 2039. This unprecedented decline is already forcing college closures and raising concerns about future workforce shortages across critical industries.
Washington Takes the Lead: 21 States Ring in 2024 with Higher Minimum Wages
Washington state has surpassed California and New York with the nation's highest minimum wage at $16.66 per hour. The wave of increases across 21 states will benefit over 9.2 million workers, highlighting the growing divide between state and federal minimum wages.
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.
Beyond Retirement: Why Baby Boomers Are Choosing Work Over Leisure
A growing wave of Americans over 65 are redefining retirement by staying employed, not from financial necessity but for fulfillment. With 20% of seniors now working - double from 35 years ago - companies are adapting to retain experienced talent amid skilled labor shortages.
The Great Detachment: U.S. Job Market Stalls Despite Low Unemployment
Despite historically low unemployment rates, American workers face unprecedented challenges in job hunting and workplace satisfaction. The shift from the Great Resignation era marks a period of widespread disconnection, slower hiring, and diminishing opportunities for career transitions.
The Hidden Economic Toll of America's First Anti-Immigration Law
The Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882 triggered widespread expulsion of Chinese residents from Western communities, leading to significant economic decline. New research reveals how this discriminatory legislation's impacts resonated through local economies for decades, serving as a cautionary tale about prejudice-driven immigration policy.
Rising Healthcare Costs Trigger Job Losses and Economic Ripple Effects Nationwide
A landmark study reveals how increasing healthcare prices are causing widespread job cuts and wage reductions across the US, with middle and lower-income workers most affected. Hospital mergers emerge as a key driver, with a 5% price increase leading to hundreds of lost jobs and millions in reduced wages.