| The unprecedented economic growth of the 1990s - coupled with various political developments - meant that record numbers of people entered the labor market. Despite this growth in labor participation however, millions of poor and low-wage working people did not escape poverty. In times of plenty, and especially now - with a slumping economy and growing federal budget deficits - increasing numbers of Americans hold jobs in the low-wage labor market. Federal policies must be designed to promote financial security and reduce poverty in America. According to Beth Shulman in The Betrayal of Work , 40 million Americans work full-time but still fail to escape poverty. Despite claims of economic recovery, there continue to be concerns about the growth of wages for workers, quality and quantity of jobs being created, availability and affordability of employer-sponsored benefits, and other economic issues. Federal policy should be designed to support workers, help balance the demands of work and family, and keep families out of poverty. For more information on Labor and Employment issues, visit the links below. CHN Status Report: Human Needs Program Reauthorization for 108th Congress (1/22/04)
AFL-CIO: Overtime Pay Under Attack (June 2003)
Low Income Working Families
Urban Institute: A Profile of the Low-Wage Immigrant Workforce (10/27/03)
Unemployeed Workers Information Website
Finance Project Workforce Development Page
Urban Institute Research by Topic
ALF-CIO
The Workforce Alliance
National Employment Law Project
Economic Policy Institute
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