Jobs & The Economy
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Massachusetts Cash Assistance – A MassBudget Data Droplet
The cash assistance program was created to be a reliable back-up for the lowest-income families; today the program reaches only a small share of families …
At a Crossroads Created by COVID: Executive Summary
At a Crossroads Created by COVID: Families Moving Along the Road to Opportunity in Massachusetts Executive Summary Read the full report here. PART 1: THE …
At a Crossroads Created by COVID: Families Moving Along the Road to Opportunity in Massachusetts
We may have promised the children of Massachusetts that they can arrive at a bright tomorrow full of opportunity, but we have allowed many obstacles to get in the way of that promise for too many of our children. On top of that, these past two years have created new obstacles, and have also put Massachusetts at an important crossroads. The twin health and economic emergencies of the pandemic and subsequent downturn have made long-standing racial and economic inequities worse.
ALL JOBS & THE ECONOMY REPORTS
Wrong on Schedule: How Unstable Scheduling Hurts Massachusetts Workers and their Families
Over the next several years, Massachusetts will see more job openings in hourly retail and food service positions (salespersons, cashiers, fast food workers, and wait staff) than in almost any other occupation. For workers paid by the hour, time, as the saying goes, is money — literally. That means they need to count on stable, sufficient, and predictable schedules, which allow them to earn a decent living, and have time to take care of themselves and their families.
Infographic: Celebrating Latinx Heritage Month
In honor of National Hispanic Heritage Month, also known as #LatinxHeritageMonth (running Sept. 15-Oct. 15), our infographics analyze the number of eligible Hispanic tax filers per county that could or already benefitting from the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC).
Concentrated Poverty Snapshot
Nearly 90,000 children in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts are living in concentrated-poverty. What is the long-term effect on our children and our communities? Read the full snapshot, and stay tuned for our upcoming analysis on the issue.
Infographics: Labor Day on EITC and CITC
Infographics showing who would benefit from the expansion of the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) and Child Tax Credit (CTC) here in Massachusetts.
It’s About Time: Modernizing the Massachusetts Overtime Law Would Help 435,000 Salaried Workers
Everyone deserves fair pay for the hours they work, and the freedom to have a personal life away from the job. That’s why we have overtime laws, which require that most workers be paid time-and-a-half for every hour they work over 40 in a given week. For salaried workers, however, these laws no longer provide the protection they used to.
Impact of the Increase in the Massachusetts Minimum Wage to $12
These infographics show the impacts of the increase in the Massachusetts minimum wage on January 1, 2019, from $11 to $12 per hour.
A Chilly Reception: Proposed Immigration Rule Creates Chilling Effect for New Immigrants and Current Citizens
The Trump Administration announced on October 10 a proposal that would fundamentally change our country’s approach to immigration. This proposal would change what is known as the “public charge” immigration rule, which could make it very difficult for many immigrants to receive the Green Cards or visas that allow them to enter or stay in this country legally.
Massachusetts Poverty Rate Flat, Median Income Growth Slowed in 2017
The U.S. Census Bureau recently released new data from its American Community Survey (ACS), allowing us to see how Massachusetts residents fared economically last year. Although the state has made significant gains in poverty reduction and income growth in recent years, especially since the recession, year-over-year progress began to slow in 2017. Compared to 2016, the poverty rate was essentially flat, and median household income grew at a much slower pace.