Nathan Wilmers
@natewilmers.bsky.social
Working on wage inequality, economic sociology, unions, and work. associate professor @MITSloan.
Reposted by Nathan Wilmers
This paper from @tomlyttelton.bsky.social and @natewilmers.bsky.social is amazing. It shows that removing educational requirements can have big impacts for workers...except that employers don't really hire those workers below the normal education level anyway.
Are decredentialed jobs a route to upward mobility? Prominent employers, from Microsoft to the State of Maryland, are increasingly dropping college degree requirements when hiring. Does this provide upward mobility for workers without a college degree? Matching job postings to h
#sociology link
#sociology link
September 10, 2025 at 7:28 PM
This paper from @tomlyttelton.bsky.social and @natewilmers.bsky.social is amazing. It shows that removing educational requirements can have big impacts for workers...except that employers don't really hire those workers below the normal education level anyway.
Reposted by Nathan Wilmers
Early results suggest Chavez-DeRemer's prior pro-labor stances weren't exactly deeply held.
www.washingtonpost.com/business/202...
www.washingtonpost.com/business/202...
Trump to cut protections for home health aides, migrant farmworkers
The Labor Department unveiled an “aggressive deregulatory” effort this week.
www.washingtonpost.com
July 2, 2025 at 6:05 PM
Early results suggest Chavez-DeRemer's prior pro-labor stances weren't exactly deeply held.
www.washingtonpost.com/business/202...
www.washingtonpost.com/business/202...
Reposted by Nathan Wilmers
"Cuts to social programs will have a major impact on local economic activity." Social programs are a key part of the regional economic base. @robertmanduca.bsky.social on how Medicaid and SNAP cuts in the #ReconciliationBill will negatively impact local economies:
equitablegrowth.org/medicaid-and...
equitablegrowth.org/medicaid-and...
July 2, 2025 at 1:03 PM
"Cuts to social programs will have a major impact on local economic activity." Social programs are a key part of the regional economic base. @robertmanduca.bsky.social on how Medicaid and SNAP cuts in the #ReconciliationBill will negatively impact local economies:
equitablegrowth.org/medicaid-and...
equitablegrowth.org/medicaid-and...
Reposted by Nathan Wilmers
My 40 year old book, Recapitalizing America was reissued. Here is my reflection today. www.wipsociology.org/2025/07/02/r...
Recapitalizing America Redux – Work in Progress
www.wipsociology.org
July 2, 2025 at 3:02 PM
My 40 year old book, Recapitalizing America was reissued. Here is my reflection today. www.wipsociology.org/2025/07/02/r...
Reposted by Nathan Wilmers
At the blog I wrote about a new paper by @natewilmers.bsky.social , @zparolin.bsky.social , and @lukaslehner.bsky.social .
We're living in a novel era of inequality discordance. What's going on?!
asocial.substack.com/p/inequality...
We're living in a novel era of inequality discordance. What's going on?!
asocial.substack.com/p/inequality...
May 27, 2025 at 11:09 AM
At the blog I wrote about a new paper by @natewilmers.bsky.social , @zparolin.bsky.social , and @lukaslehner.bsky.social .
We're living in a novel era of inequality discordance. What's going on?!
asocial.substack.com/p/inequality...
We're living in a novel era of inequality discordance. What's going on?!
asocial.substack.com/p/inequality...
Reposted by Nathan Wilmers
David Weil & I are hiring a full-time post-doc to work with us on new strategic enforcement research. Folks interested in computational methods, labor policy, industrial relations, labor economics, etc.. pls apply (+ don't hesitate to get in touch)! Apps due 1/8/24
shift.hks.harvard.edu/about/jobs/
shift.hks.harvard.edu/about/jobs/
Jobs - The Shift Project
Shift is hiring! Post-Doctoral Research Fellow Opportunity About the Position Professors Daniel Schneider (Harvard Kennedy School) and David Weil (Brandeis University) are recruiting one full-ti...
shift.hks.harvard.edu
November 17, 2023 at 1:52 PM
David Weil & I are hiring a full-time post-doc to work with us on new strategic enforcement research. Folks interested in computational methods, labor policy, industrial relations, labor economics, etc.. pls apply (+ don't hesitate to get in touch)! Apps due 1/8/24
shift.hks.harvard.edu/about/jobs/
shift.hks.harvard.edu/about/jobs/
Reposted by Nathan Wilmers
"Is this the end of corporate capitalism?" Probably not the end--but an opening for alternatives.
lpeproject.org/blog/is-this...
lpeproject.org/blog/is-this...
November 8, 2023 at 1:50 PM
"Is this the end of corporate capitalism?" Probably not the end--but an opening for alternatives.
lpeproject.org/blog/is-this...
lpeproject.org/blog/is-this...
Reposted by Nathan Wilmers
"The Economics Profession's Socioeconomic Diversity Problem" w/ Robert Schultz is now out in the JEP Here's the paper:
pubs.aeaweb.org/doi/pdfplus/...
and the Twitter thread from Mar 2022 (aka before I was on Bsky - sorry!)
twitter.com/annastansbur...
pubs.aeaweb.org/doi/pdfplus/...
and the Twitter thread from Mar 2022 (aka before I was on Bsky - sorry!)
twitter.com/annastansbur...
pubs.aeaweb.org
November 3, 2023 at 4:56 PM
"The Economics Profession's Socioeconomic Diversity Problem" w/ Robert Schultz is now out in the JEP Here's the paper:
pubs.aeaweb.org/doi/pdfplus/...
and the Twitter thread from Mar 2022 (aka before I was on Bsky - sorry!)
twitter.com/annastansbur...
pubs.aeaweb.org/doi/pdfplus/...
and the Twitter thread from Mar 2022 (aka before I was on Bsky - sorry!)
twitter.com/annastansbur...
Reposted by Nathan Wilmers
New paper in Socio-Economic Review! We examine the relationship between the density of college majors in occupations and occupation-level earnings. This "major specialization" of occupations boosts earnings, over and above closure mechanisms and skills. doi.org/10.1093/ser/...
October 25, 2023 at 8:19 PM
New paper in Socio-Economic Review! We examine the relationship between the density of college majors in occupations and occupation-level earnings. This "major specialization" of occupations boosts earnings, over and above closure mechanisms and skills. doi.org/10.1093/ser/...
Reposted by Nathan Wilmers
When it's time to change... we change.
Here's my Substack: www.wildworldofwork.org
I'll publish every couple weeks on this wild world of work we now inhabit: how we're handling intelligent tech and how we could do better.
I couldn't ask for better early readers than you folks: please subscribe!
Here's my Substack: www.wildworldofwork.org
I'll publish every couple weeks on this wild world of work we now inhabit: how we're handling intelligent tech and how we could do better.
I couldn't ask for better early readers than you folks: please subscribe!
October 15, 2023 at 12:06 AM
When it's time to change... we change.
Here's my Substack: www.wildworldofwork.org
I'll publish every couple weeks on this wild world of work we now inhabit: how we're handling intelligent tech and how we could do better.
I couldn't ask for better early readers than you folks: please subscribe!
Here's my Substack: www.wildworldofwork.org
I'll publish every couple weeks on this wild world of work we now inhabit: how we're handling intelligent tech and how we could do better.
I couldn't ask for better early readers than you folks: please subscribe!
Reposted by Nathan Wilmers
Another strike! Strikes happen when 2 sides differ in view of power balance. Unionized employers in America are only slowly realizing workers have more leverage now than in decades past.
A key reason: historically tight labor market over past 5 years.
A key reason: historically tight labor market over past 5 years.
UAW workers reject Mack Trucks contract, go on strike
The union said 73 percent of its workers had voted against a tentative agreement the two parties hashed out a week ago.
washingtonpost.com
October 9, 2023 at 3:40 PM
Another strike! Strikes happen when 2 sides differ in view of power balance. Unionized employers in America are only slowly realizing workers have more leverage now than in decades past.
A key reason: historically tight labor market over past 5 years.
A key reason: historically tight labor market over past 5 years.
Reposted by Nathan Wilmers
Just the MOST incredible news! 🎉🎉🎉
Congratulations to Claudia Goldin for her groundbreaking work on gender and the workplace, with a historical perspective!
x.com/NobelPrize/s...
x.com/NobelPrize/s...
October 9, 2023 at 12:54 PM
Just the MOST incredible news! 🎉🎉🎉
Reposted by Nathan Wilmers
Some relevant lit abt workers dealing with imperfectly observed employer heterogeneity:
www.journals.uchicago.edu/doi/abs/10.1...
papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers....
www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/28mbj...
www.nber.org/papers/w29623
www.nber.org/papers/w30266
What else do you know in this area?
www.journals.uchicago.edu/doi/abs/10.1...
papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers....
www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/28mbj...
www.nber.org/papers/w29623
www.nber.org/papers/w30266
What else do you know in this area?
What’s the Inside Scoop? Challenges in the Supply and Demand for Information on Employers | Journa...
Workers struggle to understand prospective employers. Through experienced workers’ volunteered reviews, Glassdoor is a platform seeking to provide information about prospective employers to job seek...
www.journals.uchicago.edu
October 4, 2023 at 7:51 PM
Some relevant lit abt workers dealing with imperfectly observed employer heterogeneity:
www.journals.uchicago.edu/doi/abs/10.1...
papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers....
www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/28mbj...
www.nber.org/papers/w29623
www.nber.org/papers/w30266
What else do you know in this area?
www.journals.uchicago.edu/doi/abs/10.1...
papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers....
www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/28mbj...
www.nber.org/papers/w29623
www.nber.org/papers/w30266
What else do you know in this area?
For this new site audience: I’m hiring a postdoc! Very flexible in terms of details, but I’m looking for someone I can collaborate with on labor market inequality research. Apps due 11/1.
It is based at MIT, but I’m open to remote work.
apply.interfolio.com/130576
It is based at MIT, but I’m open to remote work.
apply.interfolio.com/130576
October 7, 2023 at 7:17 PM
For this new site audience: I’m hiring a postdoc! Very flexible in terms of details, but I’m looking for someone I can collaborate with on labor market inequality research. Apps due 11/1.
It is based at MIT, but I’m open to remote work.
apply.interfolio.com/130576
It is based at MIT, but I’m open to remote work.
apply.interfolio.com/130576
Reposted by Nathan Wilmers
A quick reminder that the share of prime working age Americans with a job is at a 22 year high and, with luck, we’ll set a new post-2001 record tomorrow.
Only 1 percentage point from the all time high!
Only 1 percentage point from the all time high!
October 5, 2023 at 11:18 PM
A quick reminder that the share of prime working age Americans with a job is at a 22 year high and, with luck, we’ll set a new post-2001 record tomorrow.
Only 1 percentage point from the all time high!
Only 1 percentage point from the all time high!
Reposted by Nathan Wilmers
"The Americans most at risk of eviction are babies and toddlers."
I'm so excited to finally see this research in print.
www.nytimes.com/2023/10/02/u...
I'm so excited to finally see this research in print.
www.nytimes.com/2023/10/02/u...
The Americans Most Threatened by Eviction: Young Children
About a quarter of Black babies and toddlers in rental households face the threat of eviction in a typical year, a new study says, and all children are disproportionately at risk.
www.nytimes.com
October 2, 2023 at 7:24 PM
"The Americans most at risk of eviction are babies and toddlers."
I'm so excited to finally see this research in print.
www.nytimes.com/2023/10/02/u...
I'm so excited to finally see this research in print.
www.nytimes.com/2023/10/02/u...
Reposted by Nathan Wilmers
Newish paper with Haowen Zheng (1st author): gender differences in field of study account for about 36% of the segregation of male and female college graduates across occupations.
Implies that 64% is unrelated to field, get-women-in-STEM programs not a panacea.
read.dukeupress.edu/demography/a...
Implies that 64% is unrelated to field, get-women-in-STEM programs not a panacea.
read.dukeupress.edu/demography/a...
How Gender Segregation in Higher Education Contributes to Gender Segregation in the U.S. Labor Marke...
read.dukeupress.edu
October 2, 2023 at 11:22 AM
Newish paper with Haowen Zheng (1st author): gender differences in field of study account for about 36% of the segregation of male and female college graduates across occupations.
Implies that 64% is unrelated to field, get-women-in-STEM programs not a panacea.
read.dukeupress.edu/demography/a...
Implies that 64% is unrelated to field, get-women-in-STEM programs not a panacea.
read.dukeupress.edu/demography/a...
Great new article on long-term inequality effects of RtW: journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/...
The Right to Work and American Inequality - Tom VanHeuvelen, 2023
Labor historians describe Right to Work (RTW) as among the most consequential pushbacks against the early twentieth-century ascent of labor unions. Yet research...
journals.sagepub.com
September 30, 2023 at 4:28 PM
Great new article on long-term inequality effects of RtW: journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/...