Related UI Researchers

Publications on Work/Income

This project uses data from the 2005/2006 National Health Interview Survey to provide a profile of the prevalence of different types of disability and employment among TANF recipients. We find that prevalence of disability varies widely depending on the specific measure used. Using narrow and broad composite disability measures, anywhere from 10 to 40 percent of TANF recipients have a disability and almost one-fifth have a family member with a disability. Disability prevalence among Food Stamp recipients is similar to TANF but low-income mothers have lower prevalence on almost all measures. Employment among TANF recipients with disabilities is considerably lower than among recipients without disabilities.

Career change is common at older ages. This report shows that 27 percent of workers employed full time at age 51 to 55 change occupations by age 65 to 69. More than one-third of older job leavers separate because of job layoffs or health problems, including nearly half of those who did not complete high school. Workers who change careers typically move into jobs that pay less than their previous jobs and are less likely to offer pension and health benefits. However, new careers tend to offer more flexible employment arrangements, less stressful working conditions, and fewer managerial responsibilities.

The stock market gained 35 percent between March 9, 2009 and May 5, 2009. For those who held on to their equities, these gains reversed some of the massive losses experienced since September 2007. This fact sheet examines the impact of the ongoing economic turmoil on older households and presents estimates of the retirement account losses to date.

This report summarizes strategies San Francisco employers used to implement the nation's first law requiring paid sick days for all employees, based on interviews with a sample of businesses. Although employers faced three new policies that affected staff wages and benefits, they were able to implement the paid sick leave requirement with minimal impacts to their business. The report details employer responses to the law in their operations, staffing, employee benefit packages, and reporting requirements. By assessing employers' perspectives on the operational challenges of the law, the study provides lessons to inform future research and policymaking.

The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA), the economic stimulus package passed in February, provides significant resources for developing environment-friendly “green jobs.” The act includes $48 billion overall for job training and education, nearly $100 billion for transportation and infrastructure, $20 billion in tax incentives for renewable energy, and more than $41 billion for energy-related programs. But it is unclear how green investments will benefit the country’s most vulnerable individuals: low-wage workers with limited skills.