Economy Feb 09 How rising prices are squeezing Americans who were already on a tight budget Many economists believe the spike in prices is going to be quite high compared to a year ago, while inflation's bite has been particularly pronounced on some groups of Americans. That includes seniors living on fixed incomes and millennials who…
Nation Jan 10 Political polarization prompts efforts to bridge the gap through shared experiences PBS NewsHour spent much of last week trying to examine what still divides our country and the deep polarization that preceded the Jan. 6 riots. Now, Paul Solman looks at multiple efforts to bridge those major political and cultural fissures…
Economy Dec 28 Why lumber costs fluctuated drastically during the pandemic, and how it affects inflation Home prices and rents have gone up this year. That’s in part because of the increase in the cost of lumber. Could the wild swings in the price of wood over the past two years be a sign of inflation…
Economy Dec 03 Analyzing the shipping backlog from one of America’s busiest ports Friday's jobs report offered mixed signals about the state of hiring, but one thing was clear: more people are trying to get back into the labor force. Supply chain issues are one key challenge as companies compete for workers and…
Economy Nov 11 Trump-era Opportunity Zones meant to help low-income communities exploited by investors Former President Donald Trump's 2017 tax plan created Opportunity Zones — a program of tax incentives to encourage investment in low-income communities. But as Paul Solman reports, that program has not necessarily spurred economic growth and jobs in distressed communities…
Education Oct 26 Jobs requiring college degrees disqualify most U.S. workers — especially workers of color It has long been a given that a four-year college degree is a prerequisite for moving up the economic ladder in the U.S. But for others, that requirement is having unintended consequences, including negatively affecting their mental health. Paul Solman…
Economy Oct 08 The pandemic pushed millions of U.S. workers to join the ‘Great Resignation.’ Here’s why The September jobs report shows that the unemployment rate fell to 4.8% and job openings are at a record high with wages increased again last month, as companies tried to attract new employees. But more than 25 million people quit…
Economy Sep 27 Why trade jobs are unpopular, and how low-wage workers can get better opportunities As the American economy recovers from the worst impacts of the pandemic, questions remain about the labor force and the problems that plagued the economy even prior to the start of COVID-19. In the eighth and final installment of our…
Economy Aug 25 How apprenticeships can bridge the employment gap for workers without college degrees Because of the pandemic, millions of lost jobs in the U.S. are not filled yet. While there are reports of labor shortages in many sectors, a large percentage of workers say they are looking for a new job. For some…
Nation Aug 05 Remembering Richard Trumka, a giant in the world of labor and unions Richard Trumka, who was at the helm of the nation's largest labor federation, the AFL-CIO, for more than two decades, died on Thursday. Paul Solman reports, and Robert Reich, former secretary of labor under the Clinton administration, joins Judy Woodruff…