Everyone who works deserves the security of knowing that, if they lose their job through no fault of their own, they will have income to prevent a financial crisis while they get back on their feet. A well-functioning unemployment compensation (UC) system provides that security for individuals and their families.
With minimum wage off the November ballot, Policy Matters economist discusses pathways to $15 Last Wednesday was the deadline for turning in petition signatures to put a $15 minimum wage on the Ohio ballot this November. Signature gatherers determined they had not yet reached the required number in all Ohio
Rising unemployment rate could signal more job-seeker confidence The takeaway Ohio posted the largest job gains this year in May, up 21,200 over April’s total and nearly double the number of jobs added in the four prior months combined. The unemployment rate ticked up 0.2 to 4.2%. A closer look
Testimony on SB 256 “Modify the earned income tax credit; increase the minimum wage” before the Senate Ways and Means Committee Good morning, Chair Blessing, Vice-chair Roegner, Ranking Member Smith and members of the committee. My name is Michael Shields and I am a labor economist at Policy Matters Ohio,
With inflation sticky, Fed response could slow job openings, cost workers The takeaway Ohio lost jobs for the second time this year and saw a rise in unemployment last month. As Consumer Price Inflation remained at a stubborn 3.4% (and rose 0.2 points to 2.7% using the Federal Reserve’s preferred
Today, Ohio Senator Bill Blessing gave sponsor testimony on Senate Bill 256, a measure that would raise the minimum wage to $15 per hour for most Ohio workers and create a refundable Ohio Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC). A citizens’ ballot measure now gathering signatures for inclusion on Ohio’s ballot
Everyone who works for a living should be paid a wage that enables them to cover the basics for themselves and their families. Yet last year, four of Ohio’s 10 largest occupations paid their median worker so little they would qualify for and likely depend on food aid to feed
Despite improvements, too many Ohioans left out of jobs recovery and pay increases Report author Michael shields spoke to Ideastream’s The Sound of Ideas about his findings. Last year, four of Ohio’s 10 largest occupations paid their median worker so little they would qualify for and likely depend on food
Ballot measure would eliminate carveouts that hold pay down for tipped workers, disabled workers, youth Nearly 1 million working Ohioans would benefit from a ballot measure that could appear before Ohio voters this November, according to a report released today by Policy Matters Ohio. “From the food processing workers who
Thousands of Ohioans of all walks of life work hard but don’t take home enough to cover the basics. They need a raise. Ohio’s minimum wage is too low: too low to cover the basic cost of living, and too low to reflect the value of work being done by
The takeaway: The state may be moving from recovery to a new normal. The mix of jobs has shifted away from low-paying industries and Ohio added jobs in strong preliminary findings for March. The unemployment rate rose slightly, mainly due to an influx of new job hopefuls. The jobs survey:
The takeaway: Now firmly recovered from the latest recession, Ohio continues to take two steps forward, one step back in the state’s march to regain the jobs lost to the 2000 recession. This month’s revision adds to the story as first-reported January jobs numbers come in lower and still shy
