Toward a New Social Contract in the Labor Market
How the economy impacts working families is the ultimate measure of its success or failure. After World War II, the United States established itself as an economic leader in this regard, in part through a social contract that allowed American companies to prosper with a dedicated, increasingly productive workforce and rewarded American workers with good wages and benefits, a safe work environment, and job security. Unfortunately—even before the current recession began—wages have stagnated, health and retirement benefits become less secure. In short, a stable, economically secure middle-class life is becoming harder to achieve for millions of Americans.
We need to adopt economic policies that create a sustainable path to prosperity for American companies and ensure that American workers are rewarded with decent work conditions, good wages, and a real opportunity for economic mobility.
Featured Content
Creating Good Jobs in Our Communities
T. William Lester and Ken Jacobs examine living wage laws and how they affect job growth and economic development.
Inclusive Capitalism for the American Workforce 
Richard B. Freeman, Joseph R. Blasi, and Douglas L. Kruse on why adopting broad-based incentive plans will improve economic performance and help restore the relation between worker incomes and economic growth. Scapegoating Workers: Government Employees Aren't the Problem, January 24, 2011
Data Matters : David Madland and Karla Walter on how the nation’s top labor cop can use data to drive enforcement and protect American workers.
Getting Out of the Deep Unemployment Hole:
High Job Losses in Recession Overshadow Economic Recovery , February 5, 2010
Meeting the Jobs Challenge:
How to Avoid Another Jobless—or Job-Loss—Economic Recovery, December 2, 2009
Mixed News for Older Workers:
Elderly Workers Rely on the Labor Market to Salvage Retirement, September 4, 2009
Laboring Toward Recovery:
Unemployment Numbers Drop in July, August 7, 2009
Job Outlook Still Bleak:
Some Improvement in Employment, But Jobs Market Still Grim, June 5, 2009
Economy: Bringing the Economy Back:
Madland on Making the Economy Work, March 18, 2009
Harming Workers Until the Very End :
Bush’s Midnight Rules Changes and Weak Enforcement of Worker Protection Laws Jeopardize the Rights of Ordinary Americans , January 23, 2009
Auto Bailout Debate Hijacked:
Conservatives Attack Workers and Unions, December 9, 2008
Enforcing Change: Five Strategies for Enforcing Workers’ Rights, December 8, 2008
Bush Economy Continues Tanking:
New Measures Needed to Help Workers , December 5, 2008
Joe the Plumber Done Right: Policies Matter for Economic Growth, October 22, 2008
Una Cuestion de Prioridades:
El Departamento del Trabajo bajo la administración de Bush, September 29, 2008
Second Stimulus Needed :
Ettlinger and Madland on the Economy, September 18, 2008
Bush Shirks Role as Top Labor Cop:
We Can Make Workplaces Safer Again, September 9, 2008
Job Losses Mount:
Unemployment Increases to 5.7%, August 1, 2008
Record Unemployment Is a Clarion Call for Action:
Unemployment Sees Biggest Increase in 20 Years, June 6, 2008
A Tale of Two Conservatives:
Comparing Bush and Hoover on the Economy, June 5, 2008
The Write Stuff:
The Writer's Strike and the Economy, April 10, 2008
Dismal Employment Numbers:
80,000 Jobs Lost, April 4, 2008
Employment Hits New Low:
More Bad News for Workers, February 1, 2008
Labor Market:
Madland on New Lows for Workers, January 12, 2008
Responsible Investment:
Fiscal Policy for Progressive Growth, January 9, 2008
American Workers See New Lows:
2007 Ends with Employment Declines, January 4, 2008
Progressive Growth:
Transforming America’s Economy, November 28, 2007
Mixed Signals:
Job Growth Up But Concentrated, November 2, 2007