2022 Archives - Labor Education Program (LEP)

Toward a Theory of Super-Exploitation: The Subproletariat, Harold “Hal” Baron, and the Crisis of the Political Economy of Black Labor

This article argues that the African American working class can be conceptualized as a subproletariat: a subsection of the working class generally restricted to unstable, unskilled, low-wage, non-union, and “dirty” labor. The restructuring of capital during various periods in the U.S. history always strategically positioned the vast majority of Black people in subproletarian labor. Under … Read more

Economic Outcomes of Women and Children in Illinois Compared to States that Have Banned or Are Likely to Ban Abortion

On June 24th of 2022, the U.S. Supreme Court voted 6-3 in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization to overturn Roe v. Wade, upending a five decades-long precedent on women’s reproductive healthcare rights.Previous research has linked reproductive healthcare with improved outcomes for women and children.• The legalization of abortion reduced teen motherhood by 34 percent.• … Read more

The Impact of COVID-19 on Illinois Workers | Data from the Current Population Survey, 2019-2021

The United States is currently facing a tight labor market, and Illinois is not immune. As of July 2022, there were 469,000 job openings in the state, or 1.6 per unemployed resident. At the same time, as of July 2022, total non-farm employment in Illinois was still down by about 80,500 workers (-1 percent) compared … Read more

An Economic Impact Analysis of Hiring Local in Springfield, Missouri

A local business preference ordinance has been proposed to support small businesses, prevent high unemployment, and increase municipal tax revenues in Springfield, Missouri. The ordinance would provide an 8 percent bid credit to law-abiding local businesses bidding on the City’s public works projects.A strong Springfield is built locally by highly trained workers. Awarding public works … Read more

Illinois at $1 Trillion | Putting the Historic Economic Achievement in Context

Illinois is now a $1 trillion economy, a historic accomplishment that reveals the strength of its businesses and workers. Illinois is the 5th state to generate $1 trillion in annual economic value, following California, New York, Texas, and Florida.Illinois is the economic engine of the Midwest, but steps can be taken to ensure the state … Read more

The State of the Unions 2022 | A Profile of Unionization in Chicago, in Illinois, and in the United States

Labor unions have historically delivered pathways into good, middle-class careers. Through collective bargaining, union workers earn higher wages, are more likely to have health insurance coverage, and have greater access to paid leave. A recent surge in union activity is taking place following years of worsening inequality, the COVID-19 pandemic, and a national labor shortage.Read … Read more

A GOOD JOB NOT JUST ANY JOB | Defining and Measuring Employment Quality in Illinois

Researchers at the University of Illinois Project for Middle Class Renewal (PMCR), in partnership with Illinois Future of Work Taskforce, have developed an indicator of the quality of jobs throughout the state – Employment Quality of Illinois (EQ-IL). The effort was spurred by a partnership with Illinois’ Future of Work Taskforce. This indicator is based … Read more

The Workers’ Rights Amendment and Its Impact on Protecting Quality Jobs and Essential Industries in Illinois

In November 2022, voters will have the chance to vote on the Workers’ Rights Amendment to the Illinois Constitution, which would guarantee the fundamental right of workers to unionize and collectively bargain. The Workers’ Rights Amendment would prevent the passage of a state law or local ordinance “that interferes with, negates, or diminishes the right … Read more

Registered Nursing in Crisis | National Survey Reveals Insufficient Staffing, Severe Moral Distress, and High Turnover

Registered nursing faces a crisis. For over two years, the COVID-19 pandemic has stressed nurses, tested their skills and stamina, and exacerbated labor shortages. Each of these factors have significant implications for standards of patient care within America’s health care industry.Results from a fall 2021 survey of more than 2,200 registered nurses in hospitals across … Read more

The Economic, Fiscal, and Social Effects of Public Investments in Broadband Internet Access in Illinois

Access to reliable high-speed internet has become an essential part of commercial activity and daily life. The COVID-19 pandemic further revealed the importance of broadband internet, as more families worked, learned, and shopped from home. Since 2019, both the State of Illinois and the federal government passed infrastructure programs that include funding to expand access … Read more