All Economy
The ExplainerPromises of a shorter workweek: Could it be a win-win?As Americans quit jobs at a record pace, we look at the advantages of spending less time at work and how thinkers from Keynes to Nixon predicted it.
First LookLabor shortages: American Airlines flights canceled, again.A shortage of pilots and flight attendants exacerbated problems caused by bad weather. Over three days, American Airlines canceled about 1,800 flights.聽
First LookPay up or quit your job? Surging US day care costs force a choice.Childcare has long been a high-cost market, and with the pandemic, tuition prices in the U.S. are increasing as workers demand higher wages. The effects are being felt in the larger economy as parents, who have been priced out, are leaving the workforce to care for their kids.
First Look'A good news story': Jobs in renewable energy grew in 2020Despite the global economic slowdown of the pandemic, the renewable energy sector grew in 2020 and is even faring better than the fossil fuel industry. Worldwide, there are 12 million jobs in renewable energy, up from 11.5 million in 2019, says a recent report.聽
First LookHourly workers in US say no to weekends and late nightsAs retail stores struggle to find employees to keep stores open into the holiday season, American workers are using newfound leverage to push back against rigid and erratic schedules 鈥� and employers are finding ways to accommodate.聽
Microchip shortage: Why US is poised to take rare actionA global shortage of microchips has crimped availability of cars and other consumer products. Can government policy help revive the U.S. industry?
First LookHow TikTok is becoming the new shopping networkIt鈥檚 not just dance videos that are becoming TikTok sensations. There are now a host of products gaining new appeal 鈥� from leggings to cleaning products to cheese. The trend is sparking a marketing rethink as companies try to find the key to influencers鈥� success.聽
First LookBiden announces 24/7 operation at LA port to ease supply chainConsumer prices increased 5.4% over the past year, in large part because of supply chain back-ups. As container ships wait in long lines to dock, President Biden has elected to keep the Port of Los Angeles open around the clock in an attempt to ease inflation fears.
The ExplainerCurious how systemic racism works? Check out your neighborhood.Historical housing discrimination in Boston plays out today in systemic racism affecting homeownership, generational wealth, and education.聽
First LookHoliday holdout: Jobs are open but workers aren鈥檛 interestedIn an economy already suffering from a labor shortage, stores are struggling to find seasonal employees to staff the holiday rush. The short supply likely means there will be longer lines and more overtime for existing workers this holiday season.
Focus鈥楯ust keep it flowing.鈥� Three people working to untangle supply chain.Three frontline workers walk us through global supply chain troubles, as seen in the clogged port of Los Angeles.聽
First LookCereal politics: Kellogg workers go on strike at all US plantsOn Tuesday, 1,400 Kellogg cereal plant workers went on strike to demand better protections and benefits.聽They join a growing global movement of workers who have championed their right to better working conditions during the pandemic.聽
Hurricane Ida aftermath: Will power grids get an upgrade?From hurricanes to wildfire risks, extreme conditions are straining U.S. electric grids. Enhancing resilience will require money 鈥� and fresh thinking.
A national model? How Virginia is improving landlord-tenant relations.After being exposed for having one of the highest eviction rates in the country, Virginia has passed a number of laws with聽protections for tenants.
Pandemic took bite out of US economy. Yet millions escaped poverty.More than 17 million Americans avoided poverty in 2020 thanks to pandemic relief programs, according to a new Census report.
First LookMissing the office rush, downtown businesses work to adaptWhen the pandemic first hit, downtown businesses 鈥� from New York to London 鈥� lost a steady stream of customers and revenue. Now, as many offices delay re-opening, businesses may need to turn short-term adaptations into long-run solutions.
First Look鈥婽o spur innovation, should tech workers return to the office?鈥�Tech giants have long said that office work pods and casual encounters, rather than isolation, foster innovation. But the companies that made remote work possible are finding that even their own employees are reluctant to return to the office.
First LookUnemployment benefits for millions in US have expired. Now what?On Monday, two major pandemic unemployment benefits expired, affecting roughly 8.9 million Americans who were receiving the supplemental income. While job availability still falls short of pre-pandemic levels, there are an estimated 10 million job openings.
In pandemic economy, workers have leverage. Will it boost unions?What lies behind the growing support for unions in the U.S.? A defining aspect of Generation Z 鈥� the push for social justice 鈥� may be part of the answer.
First LookFirst woman AFL-CIO president hopes her election inspires othersLiz Shuler was elected to lead The American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations (AFL-CIO)聽last Friday, which聽has only had white male presidents in its nearly 70-year history. Nearly half of all union members today are women.