Valerie Wilson
Economic Policy Inst
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Past articles by Valerie:
Black women face a persistent pay gap, including in essential occupations during the pandemic
This year, Black Women’s Equal Pay Day arrives 10 days earlier than in 2020 (August 13). If this seems inconsistent with current realities, it is. That’s because the August 3, 2021, date is based on the comparison of median annual earnings for full-time, year-round workers reported in the 2020 Annual Social and Economic Supplement of… → Read More
Black women workers are essential during the crisis and for the recovery but still are greatly underpaid
Black Women’s Equal Pay Day, August 13, is a day to call attention to the fact that Black women deserve equal pay but are still severely underpaid. It marks how far into 2020—seven and a half months—that the average Black woman must work to make the same amount as the average non-Hispanic white man was… → Read More
AAPI women face a double pay penalty for race and gender
Asian American/Pacific Islander (AAPI) Equal Pay Day is February 11. It marks the number of days into 2020 that AAPI women have to work to make the same amount as their white male counterparts were paid in 2019. Put another way, the average AAPI woman needs to work almost an extra month and a half… → Read More
What to Watch on Jobs Day: Anticipated distortions to payroll employment and wage growth
The uneasy question on everyone’s lips these days seems to be about when the next recession is coming. Ironically, every month that gets added to the longest economic recovery in modern history brings increasing scrutiny to even the slightest sign of a downturn. As we turn our attention to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS)… → Read More
Racial and ethnic income gaps persist amid uneven growth in household incomes
Yesterday’s Census Bureau report on income, poverty, and health insurance coverage in 2018 shows that while there was a slowdown in overall median household income growth relative to 2017, income growth was uneven by race and ethnicity. Real median income increased 4.6% among Asian households (from $83,376 to $87,194), 1.8% among African American households (from… → Read More
Income growth slows significantly again in 2018
**EPI will be hosting a press call today at 12:30 p.m. Eastern to discuss the Census new data** This morning, the Census Bureau released its report on income, poverty, and health insurance for 2018. “Household income growth significantly slowed again in 2018, following a marked deceleration in 2017. While any reduction in poverty or increase… → Read More
What to watch for the in the 2018 Census data on earnings, incomes, and poverty
Next Tuesday is the Census Bureau’s release of annual data on earnings, income, poverty, and health insurance coverage for 2018, which will give us a picture of the economic status of working families 11 years into what is now the longest economic expansion in United States history. This data is particularly important because it gives us insight… → Read More
What to Watch on Jobs Day: Data volatility or signs of an economic slowdown?
On Friday, the release of Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) estimates of June job growth and unemployment will provide a first look at how the labor market has performed over the first half of the year. The unfortunate timing of the release for the Friday after the Independence Day holiday, however, means that EPI will… → Read More
State unemployment by race and ethnicity
While there have been improvements in prospects for black and Hispanic workers in some states, unemployment rates for these groups increased in the majority of states for which data are available and remain high relative to those of white workers. → Read More
Before the State of the Union, a fact check on black unemployment
The historically low black unemployment rate has become one of Donald Trump’s favorite statistical claims, one he is likely to tout again at the upcoming State of the Union address. The fallacy of touting this as a genuine accomplishment of the Trump administration rather than fortuitous timing has been noted by me and others on… → Read More
Racial inequalities in wages, income, and wealth show that MLK’s work remains unfinished
As we commemorate the 50th anniversary of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s assassination this year, it is important to remember that African Americans continue to face many of the same inequalities today that Dr. King gave his life to fight for decades ago. Racial economic inequality remains a huge issue that our nation must come… → Read More
Digging into the 2017 ACS: Improved income growth for Native Americans, but lots of variation in the pace of recovery for different Asian ethnic groups
Thursday’s release of 2017 American Community Survey (ACS) data allows us to fill in the blanks for racial and ethnic groups that were not covered in Wednesday’s Census Bureau report on income, poverty, and health insurance coverage in 2017. The ACS is an annual nationwide survey that provides detailed demographic, social, and economic data for… → Read More
2016 ACS shows stubbornly high Native American poverty and different degrees of economic well-being for Asian ethnic groups
Thursday’s release of 2016 American Community Survey (ACS) data allows us to fill in the blanks for race and ethnic groups that were not covered in Tuesday’s Census Bureau report on income, poverty, and health insurance coverage in 2016. ACS is an annual nationwide survey that provides detailed demographic, social, and economic data for smaller… → Read More
What to watch for the in the 2017 Census data on earnings, incomes, and poverty
Next Wednesday is the Census Bureau’s release of annual data on earnings, income, poverty, and health insurance coverage for 2017, which will give us a picture of the economic status of working families 10 years since the start of the Great Recession—and in the first year of the Trump presidency. Next week’s release will help… → Read More
Separate is still unequal: How patterns of occupational segregation impact pay for black women
August 7th is Black Women’s Equal Pay Day, the day that marks how long into 2018 an African American woman would have to work in order to be paid the same wages her white male counterpart was paid last year. On average, in 2017, black women workers were paid only 66 cents on the dollar… → Read More
The rise in child poverty reveals racial inequality, more than a failed War on Poverty
Arguments in favor of cutting public expenditures on anti-poverty programs—and restricting program eligibility by imposing onerous work or drug testing requirements—usually go something like this: The War on Poverty was a failed waste of taxpayer dollars because there are more people in poverty now than 50 years ago. The biggest problem with this claim is… → Read More
Countries investing more in social programs have less child poverty
Poverty is a universal problem that affects every nation on earth—both rich and poor. The world’s wealthiest nations have the means to substantially reduce poverty rates in their countries by providing cash assistance and in-kind benefits to those in need. This graph shows how the generosity of a country’s expenditures on public assistance is related… → Read More
Black workers in right-to-work (RTW) states tend to have lower wages than in Missouri and other non-RTW states
While Missouri workers of every race could see the negative impacts of a RTW law, a larger share of black workers will be affected by any change that affects union representation. That is because 10.5 percent of black workers in Missouri’s private sector are covered by a union contract, compared with 8.0 percent of white workers and 9.0 percent of Hispanic workers. → Read More
A Missouri ‘right-to-work’ law is more likely to harm black workers, who are more likely to be covered by a union contract than other workers
While Missouri workers of every race will likely see the negative impacts of an RTW law, black Missourians would be disproportionately harmed by this right-to-work law. That is because black workers are more likely to be covered by a union contract (“unionized”) than other workers. → Read More
Racial inequalities in wages, income, and wealth show that MLK’s work remains unfinished
As we commemorate the 50th anniversary of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s assassination this year, it is important to remember that African Americans continue to face many of the same inequalities today that Dr. King gave his life to fight for decades ago. Racial economic inequality remains a huge issue that our nation must come … → Read More