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aflores-lagunes.bsky.social
Congratulations to the 2025 Upjohn Institute Dissertation Award winner and honorable mentions!
The award is for dissertations written in the area of employment research
upjohninstitute.bsky.social Upjohn Institute @upjohninstitute.bsky.social · 23d
The Upjohn Institute announces its 2025 Dissertation Award winners.
First Prize:
Lukas Lehner (@lukaslehner.bsky.social)
“Beyond Unemployment: An Investigation of Social Policies to Empower Workers in a Changing World of Work” for Oxford University

www.upjohn.org/Upjohn-Insti...
Upjohn Institute announces 2025 Dissertation Award honorees
www.upjohn.org
November 6, 2025 at 5:14 PM
Reposted
hceconomics.bsky.social
New from HCEO member @aaronsojourner.org and colleagues.
aaronsojourner.org Aaron Sojourner @aaronsojourner.org · 26d
How does employer access to prisoners’ labor through work release impact the well-being of those workers & of free workers?

New working paper by Sue Helper, Suresh Naidu, Akseli Palomaki, Adam Reich, + me provides evidence, focus on auto manufacturing in AL
#EconSky
papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers....
Coercion and Monopsony in Modern American Manufacturing: Evidence from Alabama Prison Labor Susan Helper Suresh Naidu Akseli Palomaki Adam Reich Aaron Sojourner We study coercion and monopsony in contemporary U.S. manufacturing labor markets. We combine administrative data from the Alabama Department of Corrections work release program with a unique survey of workers in the Alabama auto supply chain where workers report their work-release status. We first present descriptive patterns of work-release labor, finding that the use of incarcerated (i.e., work-release) labor is concentrated in the auto supply industry, especially in the Montgomery area, where Hyundai’s assembly plant is located. In the survey, the share of plant-level workers who are incarcerated is negatively correlated with non-incarcerated wages. The survey also enables estimation of hypothetical quit elasticities separately among incarcerated and non-incarcerated workers. Incarcerated workers are estimated to have quit elasticities less than half that of non-incarcerated workers. Because Alabama law requires employers to pay the same wage to incarcerated and non-incarcerated workers in the same jobs, the additional monopsony power introduced by employer access to incarcerated workers creates an incentive and ability for employers to reduce plant-level wages to, and employment of, non-incarcerated workers. We build a quantitative model of firm-specific labor supply that, for incarcerated workers, distinguishes the roles of coercion (the risk of physical harm in prison from not working), wage garnishment that blunts the consumption effect of higher wages, and monopsony (limited mobility across employers). Using it, we estimate effects on free and incarcerated workers’ welfare from i) reforming prison conditions to eliminate violence, ii) eliminating prison labor wage garnishment, iii) imposing a $15 minimum wage, &iv) abolishing prison labor. Free worker welfare goes up in all scenarios...
November 3, 2025 at 5:59 PM
Reposted
aaronsojourner.org
Every month for the last 77 years, the Bureau of Labor Statistics has estimated Americans' unemployment rate

This streak dies tomorrow

Govt staff could not survey Americans about whether they're working or looking for work in Oct, the 1st time in 934 months

This blind spot will remain forever
aaronsojourner.org Aaron Sojourner @aaronsojourner.org · 23d
Here's the planned BLS data release schedule for Nov 2025.

On Tues, it couldn't release Sept job openings, hires, layoffs and firings data.

This morning, it couldn't release 2025Q3 business Productivity and Costs data.

Tomorrow, it can't release Oct 2025 #JobsReport
www.bls.gov/schedule/202...
November 6, 2025 at 2:34 PM
Reposted
upjohninstitute.bsky.social
New research looks at who’s applying to Michigan Reconnect, the state’s tuition-free community college program for adults 25+. It turns out many are already well on the way to a degree or certificate.
www.upjohn.org/research-hig...
Michigan Reconnect program putting adults back on the path to a degree
www.upjohn.org
November 5, 2025 at 8:43 PM
Reposted
upjohninstitute.bsky.social
Mid-sized cities face a choice: grow together or grow apart. This new report, "10 Lessons in Public-Private Partnerships to Create Good Jobs," looks at lasting, broad-based prosperity.
www.upjohn.org/research-hig...
10 lessons for mid-sized cities: public-private partnerships and good jobs
www.upjohn.org
November 3, 2025 at 8:48 PM
aflores-lagunes.bsky.social
Prenatal and infant cash transfers ARE good investments for beneficiaries AND the local economy. New report by my colleagues on the Rx Kids program in Flint, Michigan
upjohninstitute.bsky.social Upjohn Institute @upjohninstitute.bsky.social · Oct 30
A new analysis by the Upjohn Institute finds that the Rx Kids program delivers measurable economic benefits to families and the broader local economy in Flint, Michigan. Read the full report
www.upjohn.org/research-hig...
October 31, 2025 at 2:44 PM
Reposted
upjohninstitute.bsky.social
A new analysis by the Upjohn Institute finds that the Rx Kids program delivers measurable economic benefits to families and the broader local economy in Flint, Michigan. Read the full report
www.upjohn.org/research-hig...
October 30, 2025 at 2:11 PM
aflores-lagunes.bsky.social
Interesting results about the fair workweek law introduced for fast-food workers in NYC: it has no detrimental employment effects while fostering job quality!
upjohninstitute.bsky.social Upjohn Institute @upjohninstitute.bsky.social · Oct 21
New research from @aaronsojourner.org (Upjohn Inst.) and Joseph Pickens (USNA) finds that NYC’s Fair Workweek Law gave fast-food workers more predictable schedules without costing jobs. #LaborLaws #NYC #FairWorkWeek #EconSKy
Do fair workweek laws affect labor markets?
www.upjohn.org
October 21, 2025 at 9:09 PM
aflores-lagunes.bsky.social
New insights into the state of the quality of jobs in the United States from a great team that includes Upjohn researchers Susan Houseman and Beth Truesdale
upjohninstitute.bsky.social Upjohn Institute @upjohninstitute.bsky.social · Oct 16
Less than half of U.S. workers hold a quality job with predictable schedules, safety & respect, a voice at work, and room for advancement. The Upjohn Institute partnered on a new survey revealing critical gaps in job quality and why they matter.

Read more:
#Jobs #Workforce #econsky #JobQuality
Landmark study shows less than half of U.S. workers have a quality job
www.upjohn.org
October 16, 2025 at 7:23 PM
Reposted
upjohninstitute.bsky.social
Rresearch by Mallika Thomas examines how students’ randomly assigned peers in business school affect the courses the students take, the types of jobs they enter, and their subsequent earnings.#EconSky
www.upjohn.org/research-hig...
How peer groups affect the gender-wage gap (and life) after the MBA
www.upjohn.org
October 13, 2025 at 6:50 PM
Reposted
upjohninstitute.bsky.social
BLS payroll-data revisions deserve scrutiny, but the concern isn’t manipulation. It’s what the size of those revisions may be telling us about weakening labor markets & the need to modernize data collection. Analysis by Upjohn's @mikehorrigan.bsky.social
www.upjohn.org/bls-revision...
#econsky
BLS revisions to payroll data are concerning, but not for the reasons the Trump administration thinks | Upjohn Institute
www.upjohn.org
September 29, 2025 at 6:29 PM
aflores-lagunes.bsky.social
Less data (including less funding for data) = less information for effective policymaking
aaronsojourner.org Aaron Sojourner @aaronsojourner.org · Aug 31
USDA quietly said Friday it will, after a century, end the Farm Labor Survey (FLS), the only wage survey of ag employers.

FLS is a critical input to setting local minimum wages for H-2A visa workers to try to avoid harm to U.S. workers' wages.
#LaborDay #EconSky
www.nass.usda.gov/Newsroom/Not...
Newsroom ASB Notice NASS discontinues select data collection programs and reports Issued August 28, 2025, by the Agricultural Statistics Board of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) National Agricultural Statistics Service. For more information, contact Lance Honig at Lance.Honig@usda.gov or (202) 690-8141. USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) is discontinuing the Mink Survey (OMB Control Number 0535-0212) and the Agricultural Labor Survey (OMB Control Number 0535-0109), as these collections are deemed duplicative and/or no longer necessary. This action is taken under the provisions of the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) as part of the government’s efforts to improve efficiency and eliminate unnecessary burdens. The Notice of Discontinuance of Information Collections submitted to the Federal Register can be found here. ### NASS is the federal statistical agency responsible for producing official data about U.S. agriculture and is committed to providing timely, accurate and useful statistics in service to U.S. agriculture.
September 1, 2025 at 1:55 PM
aflores-lagunes.bsky.social
Welcome to Upjohn, @chloergibbs.bsky.social and @moniqueedavis-phd.bsky.social !
upjohninstitute.bsky.social Upjohn Institute @upjohninstitute.bsky.social · Aug 1
We’re excited to officially welcome‪ @chloergibbs.bsky.social and @moniqueedavis-phd.bsky.social to the Upjohn Institute research team! Chloe brings deep expertise in education policy, while Monique’s research explores systemic inequality in economic outcomes. #EconSky
Upjohn Institute welcomes two new economists
Chloe Gibbs and Monique Davis join the research team
www.upjohn.org
August 1, 2025 at 2:22 PM
Reposted
upjohninstitute.bsky.social
We’re excited to officially welcome‪ @chloergibbs.bsky.social and @moniqueedavis-phd.bsky.social to the Upjohn Institute research team! Chloe brings deep expertise in education policy, while Monique’s research explores systemic inequality in economic outcomes. #EconSky
Upjohn Institute welcomes two new economists
Chloe Gibbs and Monique Davis join the research team
www.upjohn.org
August 1, 2025 at 2:00 PM
aflores-lagunes.bsky.social
Recently published work with an incredible group of coauthors.
Facilitating higher schooling attainment is a policy that pays off long term, even in unexpected ways, such as a later onset of dementia in older ages
upjohninstitute.bsky.social Upjohn Institute @upjohninstitute.bsky.social · Jul 24
Many studies have found a correlation between more schooling and later-life brain function, but proving the schooling itself staved off dementia gets messy, as factors such as genetics and family background come into play. New research establishes a causal link:
www.upjohn.org/research-hig...
More schooling can prevent dementia later in life
Clearest effect in the U.S. came from added schooling in the college years
www.upjohn.org
July 24, 2025 at 2:50 PM
aflores-lagunes.bsky.social
Great event! Very interesting research from each of our grantees, who received constructive feedback. If you are a graduate student, be attentive to the next call for applications. This is a @upjohninstitute.bsky.social program in partnership with the @russellsagefdn.bsky.social.
upjohninstitute.bsky.social Upjohn Institute @upjohninstitute.bsky.social · Jul 15
Doctoral candidates from top universities presented their in-progress dissertation research during the Upjohn Institute's Dissertation Grantee Conference. Upjohn economists and invited experts provided constructive feedback as the scholars prepare for careers in academia and policy research.
Early Career Scholars Present Policy-Relevant Research at Upjohn Institute Conference
www.upjohn.org
July 15, 2025 at 4:24 PM
Reposted
upjohninstitute.bsky.social
The Wash Post examines new “red tape” for Medicaid recipients, with comments from Upjohn Inst.’s
@mmilleradams.bsky.social and @truesdale.bsky.social. “The reality is that requirements like these move people off programs not by requiring work but by requiring more reporting of work.”
www.washingtonpost.com
July 10, 2025 at 2:07 PM
aflores-lagunes.bsky.social
Dissertation Award Alert!!
If you recently wrote a dissertation on employment-related issues consider applying!
upjohninstitute.bsky.social Upjohn Institute @upjohninstitute.bsky.social · Jul 7
We welcome submissions for the 2025 Dissertation Award, given to the best Ph.D. dissertation on employment-related issues. The award furthers the Upjohn Institute mission to support and conduct policy-relevant research on issues related to employment, unemployment and social insurance programs.
Dissertation Award | Upjohn Institute
www.upjohn.org
July 7, 2025 at 4:00 PM
Reposted
upjohninstitute.bsky.social
“This is the tip of the iceberg,” our Susan Houseman tells @bloomberg.com. There’s been debate about our reliance on imported goods but not enough attention on offshoring of service jobs, she said, “Not because it doesn’t happen or isn’t important, but because we don’t have good data on it.”
H-1B Middlemen Bring Cheap Labor to Citi, Capital One
Major US banks like Citi and Capital One are outsourcing to H-1B middleman firms which game the visa lottery system to hire thousands of lower paid workers.
www.bloomberg.com
June 27, 2025 at 3:52 PM
Reposted
aaronsojourner.org
EXTREMELY BAD NEWS for economic research, per former BLS Commissioner @ericagroshen.bsky.social on LinkedIn.

BLS is suspending access to its restricted data "for the forseeable future." Applies to projects through the Federal Statistical Research Data Centers & onsite projects with BLS.
#EconSky
June 6, 2025 at 6:54 PM