Economic Policy Institute

A new report shows Ohio renters need at least $23.82 hourly to afford a two-bedroom apartment, a 5% increase from $22.51 in 2023. The average Ohio renter earns $19.59 hourly, below the required wage, with minimum wage workers needing 87 hours weekly to afford rent. Ohio faces a shortage of 266,000 affordable rental units.

The Trump administration proposed ending a requirement for employers with 100+ workers to report demographic data on race, gender, and ethnicity. The EEOC voted 2-1 to advance the plan, which critics argue undermines enforcement of anti-discrimination laws and accountability. The proposal aligns with the administration’s broader push to eliminate diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives.

The Trump administration proposed ending requirements for large employers to report workforce demographics to the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. A federal commission voted 2-1 to advance the plan, which could reduce federal oversight of workplace discrimination enforcement. Experts warn the proposal may hinder accountability and could lead to state-level actions to fill the regulatory gap.

The Trump administration proposed ending a requirement for employers to report workforce demographics, which the EEOC voted 2-1 to advance. The rule change aims to eliminate data collection on sex, race, and ethnicity for employers with 100+ workers, arguing it encourages discrimination against non-minorities. Experts warn it would reduce federal oversight and transparency, potentially prompting states to enact their own requirements.

Tripling US union membership would result in a 14.5% raise for the median US worker, shifting $1.2tn to workers annually and narrowing racial wage gaps, according to a report by the Economic Policy Institute. Union density, which was over 30% in the 1950s, has declined to 10% in 2025.

The U.S. labor market slowed in June with job growth at 57,000, down from previous months, while leisure and hospitality jobs fell by 61,000. The unemployment rate dropped to 4.2%, the lowest since June 2025, but economist Elise Gould noted 720,000 people left the labor market, calling the decline 'for the wrong reasons.'

The US labor market slowed in June with job growth at 57,000, down from previous months, while leisure and hospitality jobs fell by 61,000. The unemployment rate dropped to 4.2%, the lowest since June 2025, but this decline was attributed to 720,000 people leaving the labor market.

A report found four of Ohio's 10 most-common jobs pay so little that a full-time worker supporting a family of three would qualify for federal food assistance, with 84.5% of all jobs in the state offering median wages below the estimated cost of living for such a family. The analysis links stagnant wages to decades of tax cuts favoring corporations and the wealthy, which have not delivered promised economic benefits.

The US labor market showed weakened job growth in June with an increase of 57,000 jobs, down from previous months. Leisure and hospitality jobs declined by 61,000 due to slower seasonal hiring, while business services, social assistance, and healthcare added jobs. The unemployment rate fell to 4.2%, but 720,000 people left the labor market, according to an economist.

The U.S. labor market weakened in June, with job growth slowing to 57,000, down from previous months, and May and April job gains revised downward. The unemployment rate fell to 4.2%, the lowest since June 2025, but 720,000 people left the labor market. Leisure and hospitality jobs dropped 61,000 due to slower seasonal hiring.

The US labor market slowed in June with job growth of 57,000, down from previous months, and May's job gains revised downward. The unemployment rate fell to 4.2%, the lowest since June 2025, but this decline was attributed to 720,000 people exiting the labor market. Leisure and hospitality jobs dropped 61,000, while business services and healthcare added jobs.

The U.S. labor market slowed in June with 57,000 new jobs, down from previous months, as leisure and hospitality jobs fell by 61,000. The unemployment rate dropped to 4.2%, the lowest since June 2025, but economist Elise Gould noted this was due to 720,000 people leaving the labor market. Business and professional services, social assistance, and healthcare added jobs, while leisure and hospitality saw a seasonal hiring decline.

The US labor market weakened in June with job growth slowing to 57,000, down from previous months, and leisure and hospitality jobs dropping by 61,000. The unemployment rate fell to 4.2%, the lowest since June 2025, but this was attributed to 720,000 people leaving the labor market. Job gains in business services, social assistance, and healthcare partially offset the losses.

Four states—Indiana, Nebraska, Washington, and West Virginia—enacted laws this year that weakened child labor protections, according to the Economic Policy Institute. Changes include lower minimum wages for teens, extended work hours in apprenticeships, and reduced employer reporting requirements. Oregon, however, strengthened protections by aligning state rules with federal labor standards.

Four states—Indiana, Nebraska, Washington, and West Virginia—enacted laws this year that weaken child labor protections, including lowering minimum wages for teens and allowing longer work hours. Oregon, conversely, strengthened its standards by aligning youth work hour rules with federal guidelines.

Four U.S. states (Indiana, Nebraska, Washington, and West Virginia) enacted laws this year that weakened child labor protections, according to the Economic Policy Institute. Changes include lower minimum wages for teens, relaxed hour limits for youth apprenticeships, and reduced reporting requirements for employers.

Four states—Indiana, Nebraska, Washington, and West Virginia—enacted laws this year to weaken child labor protections, including lowering minimum wages for teens, extending work hours, and reducing safety requirements. Thirteen other states considered similar legislation, while Oregon passed a law to strengthen child labor standards.

Four states—Indiana, Nebraska, Washington, and West Virginia—enacted laws this year that weaken child labor protections, according to the Economic Policy Institute. Oregon, however, strengthened its standards by aligning youth work hour limits with federal regulations. A total of 13 states introduced bills to roll back protections, with some still under consideration.

Four U.S. states (Indiana, Nebraska, Washington, and West Virginia) have enacted laws weakening child labor protections this year, while Oregon passed a law strengthening them. The Economic Policy Institute notes trends include lowering teen wages, altering youth apprenticeships, and reducing safeguards for minors in hazardous work.

Four states—Indiana, Nebraska, Washington, and West Virginia—enacted laws this year to weaken child labor protections, according to the Economic Policy Institute. These changes include lower minimum wages for teens, relaxed work-hour limits, and reduced safety safeguards. Oregon, in contrast, passed a law to strengthen child labor standards.

President Donald Trump increased the H-1B visa fee to $100,000 in 2023, claiming it would protect American jobs from foreign workers. A federal judge later ruled the fee invalid, stating the Trump administration overstepped its authority by implementing it without congressional approval. The H-1B program is widely used by tech companies and universities to hire skilled workers, but critics argue it displaces American employees.