WHAT MAKES WORK MORE THAN JUST A LIVING? Determinants of Employment Quality in Illinois

Our researchers at the University of Illinois Project for Middle Class Renewal (PMCR) have developed a comprehensive approach to identify the factors that determine Employment Quality in Illinois (EQ-IL 2.0). It develops ten dimensions, each with sub-components, including both subjective and objective measures. Following up on EQ-Il 1.0, we use a large survey collected in 2023 of 5,600 … Read more

City of Chicago Tipped Worker Report

This report consists of two chapters addressing potential reforms for tipped minimum wage in the City of Chicago. The Chicago Department of Business Affairs and Consumer Protection sought the assistance of the University of Illinois and the University of Chicago in conducting a study required by the Chicago City Council that examines the economic impact … Read more

Public Health Impacts of Underemployment and Unemployment in the United States: Exploring Perceptions,Gaps and Opportunities

Background: Unemployment, underemployment, and the quality of work are nationaloccupational health risk factors that drive critical national problems; however, to date, there havebeen no systematic efforts to document the public health impact of this situation. Methods: Anenvironmental scan was conducted to explore the root causes and health impacts of underemployment and unemployment and highlight multilevel … Read more

Women and Child Care in Illinois: A Survey of Working Mothers During the COVID-19 Pandemic 

The COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted economic and educational systems. The economic downturn caused by the pandemic has had substantial and potentially long-term implications for women, with their labor force participation rate falling to its lowest level in three decades. Additionally, following the advice of public health experts, Illinois restricted face-to-face activities and closed in-person schools … Read more

PRECARIOUS TIMES AT WORK: DETRIMENTAL HOURS AND SCHEDULING IN ILLINOIS AND HOW FAIR WORKWEEK POLICIES WILL IMPROVE WORKERS’ WELL-BEING

This recent survey of over 3,300 Illinois workers provides a unique portrait of eight key dimensions of work hours and schedules, their distribution by types of jobs and workers. These dimensions arecontrasted across 23 different industries — those covered by Chicago’s Fair Workweek ordinance and those uncovered. Findings from this study reinforce the need to … Read more

VETERANS IN THE LABOR MARKET: EXPERIENCES OF THE POST 9/11 GENERATION

Veterans in the Labor Market: Experiences of a Post 9/11 Generation contains the results of a research project that emerged through a community partnership between the Chez Veterans Center’s (CVC) Military Service Knowledge Collaborative at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, the Project for Middle Class Renewal at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign’s School of Labor … Read more

WORKERS’ RIGHTS IN WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT: SUCCESSES AND STRUGGLES OF CHICAGOLAND WORKFORCE PRACTITIONERS PERSUING HIGHER JOB QUALITY

PMCR, in collaboration with Chicago Jobs Council and UIC’s Great Lakes Center for Occupational Health and Safety are excited to share findings from their survey of Chicagoland workforce providers who are actively educating their participants about their rights on the job and pursuing collaborations with high road employers. Through connecting workers’ rights education to job … Read more