AFL-CIO Blog

  • Economy Gains 517,000 Jobs in January; Unemployment Down to 3.4%
    Economy Gains 517,000 Jobs in January; Unemployment Down to 3.4% The U.S. economy gained 517,000 jobs in January, and the unemployment rate declined to 3.4%, according to figures released Friday morning by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. This strong jobs report shows there is still room to expand job opportunities for Americans. Wage growth continues at levels that are consistent with low levels of inflation. In response to the January job numbers, AFL-CIO Chief Economist William Spriggs tweeted: "These numbers tie a key record string for adult Black men, it has now been nine months in a row with an unemployment rate of 6% or lower," Spriggs said. "For three months, the share of adult Black men working has remained at, or above, its pre-pandemic peak. At 1.75:1, the ratio of the Black to white unemployment rates (5.4% compared to 3.1%) is lower than usual. Typically the ratio is that the Black unemployment rate is double the white rate." "Manufacturing employment continues its strong recovery from its pandemic slump and has now reached its highest level since November 2008," Spriggs continued. "Construction continues to expand and extend its record level of employment, breaking previous records for nine straight months." January's biggest job gains were in leisure and hospitality (+128,000), professional and business services (+82,000), government (+74,000), health care (+58,000), retail trade (+30,000), construction (+25,000), transportation and warehousing (+23,000), social assistance (+21,000), and manufacturing (+19,000). Employment showed little change over the month in other major industries, including mining, wholesale trade, information, financial activities and other services. Among the major worker groups, the unemployment rates for teenagers (10.3%), Black Americans (5.4%), Hispanics (4.5%), adult men (3.2%), adult women (3.1%), White Americans (3.1%) and Asian Americans (2.8%) showed little change in January. The number of long-term unemployed workers (those jobless for 27 weeks or longer) increased slightly in January and accounted for 19.4% of the total people unemployed. Kenneth Quinnell Fri, 02/03/2023 - 10:05 — Feb 3
  • Black History Month Profiles: Karen Thomas
    Black History Month Profiles: Karen Thomas This year, for Black History Month, we're taking a look at a group of leaders who are currently active making Black history across the labor movement. Check back daily for a new profile and meet some of the people working to improve not only their community, but also to improve conditions for working people across the country. Today's profile is Karen Thomas of the Amalgamated Transit Union (ATU). Karen Thomas has been a member of the Amalgamated Transit Union (ATU) for 34 years and is a board member for the union's New Jersey State Council. She serves in various roles to ensure the success of the New Jersey State AFL-CIO’s annual Women in Leadership Development (WILD) Conference. She serves on the Somerset County Commission on the Status of Women and is a past chair of the organization. She participates in the American Cancer Society Relay for Life, and advocated for abused and neglected children in foster care as a former member of the Court Appointed Special Advocates Shaw Board of Directors. Thomas and her husband, Victor, are proud parents and grandparents. Kenneth Quinnell Fri, 02/03/2023 - 09:59 Tags: Black History Month — Feb 3
  • Service + Solidarity Spotlight: Nebraska State Workers Ratify Contract with Significant Wage Increases
    Service + Solidarity Spotlight: Nebraska State Workers Ratify Contract with Significant Wage Increases Working people across the United States have stepped up to help out our friends, neighbors and communities during these trying times. In our regular Service + Solidarity Spotlight series, we'll showcase one of these stories every day. Here’s today’s story. Members of the Nebraska Association of Public Employees (NAPE), AFSCME Local 61, ratified a new collective bargaining agreement that includes the largest salary increases state workers have seen in at least 35 years. The new contract will provide the majority of employees with wage increases of 5% and 2% over the next two years. For critical and hard-to-fill positions, the increases will range from 10% to 27%, making it much easier for the state to resolve worker shortages in several agencies. Positions for jobs such as accountants, snowplow drivers, social services workers and driver’s license examiners, among others, were in short supply because salaries lagged behind the private sector. “We’re hoping this helps us deliver the high quality services that Nebraskans expect,” said NAPE’s Executive Director Justin Hubly. Kenneth Quinnell Fri, 02/03/2023 - 09:33 — Feb 3
  • Black History Month Profiles: Calvin Brooks
    Black History Month Profiles: Calvin Brooks This year, for Black History Month, we're taking a look at a group of leaders who are currently active making Black history across the labor movement. Check back daily for a new profile and meet some of the people working to improve not only their community, but also to improve conditions for working people across the country. Today's profile is Calvin Brooks of SMART. Calvin Brooks serves as the business agent and financial secretary for International Association of Sheet Metal, Air, Rail and Transportation Workers (SMART) Local 25 and treasurer of the Passaic County Central Labor Council in New Jersey. He began his 30-year career as an apprentice from 1993 to 1997, graduated to journeyperson in 1997, and worked his way up the ranks to be shop steward, foreman, general foreman and Local 25 ombudsman. Brooks is a Navy veteran, who served from 1983-1989 on the USS Nassau in Europe and the Mediterranean Sea, and a member of the Union Veterans Council, AFL-CIO. Brooks is the proud father of two children. Kenneth Quinnell Thu, 02/02/2023 - 09:59 Tags: Black History Month — Feb 2
  • Service + Solidarity Spotlight: AFT’s Share My Lesson Provides Black History Month Plans and Resources for Teachers
    Service + Solidarity Spotlight: AFT’s Share My Lesson Provides Black History Month Plans and Resources for Teachers Working people across the United States have stepped up to help out our friends, neighbors and communities during these trying times. In our regular Service + Solidarity Spotlight series, we'll showcase one of these stories every day. Here’s today’s story. Teachers and educators play an important role during Black History Month. While lesson plans need to recognize and celebrate the contributions of Black people throughout our shared history, teachers also have the opportunity to explain to students the diversity of our society and provide inspiration and examples of how students can step up and make their own contributions to Black history. The American Federation of Teachers’ (AFT’s) Share My Lesson website provides teachers with the tools they need to make their Black History Month lessons as good as possible. From “Ida B. Wells and Her Crusade for Racial Justice” to “Memphis in 1968: The Sanitation Workers’ Strike,” Share My Lesson includes numerous lesson plans, activities and articles on a wide variety of Black history topics. Find these and other tools on the Share My Lesson Black History Month website. Kenneth Quinnell Thu, 02/02/2023 - 09:30 — Feb 2