New Jersey’s unemployment rate has steadily risen over the past year and now ranks among the highest in the nation. But while some economists and others suggest that’s a cause for concern, the topline numbers may not tell the full story. The state unemployment rate...
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In the News
Big retirement payouts for top cops, fire chiefs and school brass cost $76M. Why can’t N.J. stop them?
Despite attempts to cap significant retirement payouts to high-ranking officials in New Jersey, such as police chiefs, fire chiefs, and school administrators since 2010, generous payouts continue, impacting the state's highest property taxes and diverting funds from...
Want to join the American Climate Corps? Here’s what we know so far.
The United States is about to embark on an experiment inspired by one of the New Deal’s most popular programs. On Wednesday, the Biden administration authorized the creation of the American Climate Corps through an executive order. The program would hire 20,000 young...
Want to join the American Climate Corps? Here’s what we know so far.
The United States is about to embark on an experiment inspired by one of the New Deal’s most popular programs. On Wednesday, the Biden administration authorized the creation of the American Climate Corps through an executive order. The program would hire 20,000 young...
Are Men Left Behind? The Gender Gap at All NJ Colleges, Universities
New Jersey colleges and universities have seen an average of 40,000 more women than men as undergraduates over just a five-year span ending last fall. Years of enrollment data show that NJ has been part of a nationwide, decades-long trend of notably more female...
E-scooters are girl-coded? Rutgers researchers examine gender differences in cycling, micromobility
Researchers from The Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy recently published a study analyzing the behaviors of individuals riding bicycles and e-scooters in Asbury Park. The study was authored by Hannah Younes, a post-doctoral research...
Rising unemployment doesn’t hit all parts of the labor force equally
After hovering near five-decade lows of around 3.5% for most of 2023, the unemployment rate ticked up 0.3 percentage point in August to 3.8%, according to the Labor Department’s monthly jobs report. On its own, that rise in unemployment isn’t...
It’s Time to Reclaim the Promise of Economic Rights in the U.S.
Remember Bernie Sanders? Given the likely upcoming clash of Joe Biden and Donald Trump in the 2024 presidential race, it might be easy to forget all that the democratic socialist senator has stood for. But Sanders is still around and the ranks of his allies in the...
Surface Transportation News: Reducing car travel, Maryland express lanes, and more
Is Reducing Car Travel a Wise Policy for Greenhouse Gas Reduction Goals? California is one of a handful of states that have set targets for reducing the amount of driving, as measured by vehicle miles of travel (VMT). An Aug. 18 Streetsblog article headline...
Rutgers Report: Workplace Discrimination Still a Disturbing Reality
Discrimination based on one's race and ethnicity is alive and well in the workplace, according to research out of Rutgers University. Attitudes among workers today about divided workplaces are similar to decades ago, so companies should use the new data as a...