Economy Mar 18 As nationwide unemployment grows, Rhode Island steps in to help residents find work This week marked the 52nd straight week of high unemployment claims, with numbers rising as more than a million people filed for state and emergency federal unemployment benefits across the country. One state, Rhode Island, is working to reverse that…
Economy Mar 12 Black Americans and women continue to face discrimination in skilled trades The winter storms that devastated Texas last month led to a major water crisis. But for weeks afterward, there weren't enough plumbers to help customers with the damage. All of this underscores the need for more of these skilled workers.
Making Sen$e Mar 03 Millions of Americans saddled with student debt as debate continues over relief As Washington debates how to provide economic aid during the pandemic, many say one critical component should be part of future deals: forgiving student debt. But determining how much could or should be forgiven is a complicated question. Paul Solman…
Economy Feb 18 With millions looking for work, stigmas create a dearth of skilled tradespeople Jobless claims were high again this past week with more than 860,000 people filing for unemployment benefits for the first time. Millions of people are still looking for work, but some employers say they can't find enough skilled workers for…
Making Sen$e Feb 03 How unconventional trading led to turmoil on Wall Street In late January, a handful of unlikely Wall Street stocks began skyrocketing in value, which has led to big market volatility. The spike was driven by an unconventional group of traders who had banded together on a buying spree, determined…
Nation Jan 22 Trump leaves office facing mounting debt, devalued assets and scarcity of willing lenders One of the consequences of the chaos of the U.S. Capitol is a distancing of banks and other business from former President Trump. He now faces a delicate and difficult situation with his businesses, debt and taxes. Paul Solman reports.
Economy Jan 14 Businesses begin backing away from Republicans after Capitol attack Since last week's riot at the Capitol, more and more companies are cutting ties with Donald Trump, and dozens of corporations suspended political contributions to the 147 members of Congress who refused to certify the election of Joe Biden. Paul…
Making Sen$e Nov 19 For older workers, pandemic unemployment could be career-ending The worsening pandemic continues to mean millions of Americans out of work. For older employees in particular, this kind of long-term unemployment can represent the end of a career -- especially when they may be facing age discrimination and bias.
Making Sen$e Nov 10 How U.S. history could provide a path out of polarization The U.S. feels more deeply divided than it has in decades. According to social scientist Robert Putnam, the data backs up that assessment. Putnam, author of the seminal work on social capital and isolation “Bowling Alone,” believes looking back to…
Making Sen$e Oct 01 How some older Americans are monetizing their #VanLife With large parts of the economy still sputtering under the weight of the coronavirus pandemic, many people are having to scale back. But some older Americans were already living a minimalist lifestyle on the road -- and some of them…