jobs | Gerald R. Ford School of Public Policy

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Stevenson discusses BLS jobs report, inflation

Apr 12, 2023

Last week, the Bureau of Labor Statistics released their monthly jobs report. Betsey Stevenson lent her expertise to numerous media outlets to break down what she saw. "This report is just about as good as it can be. It's slowing slightly, and...

In the Media

Stevenson breaks down job growth across different sectors

Apr 4, 2023 CNBC

Betsey Stevenson, CNBC: "What we've been seeing is a massive reallocation of workers. First, we expanded how much stuff we were buying, so the goods sector just did remarkably well early on in the pandemic. And it was the service sector that got...

In the Media

Wolfers remains optimistic about economy

Mar 10, 2023 BBC

Justin Wolfers, BBC: "The best forecast for the future state of the economy is the current state and the current state is good. There's a recessionary vibe, but there's no recessionary...

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Wolfers optimistic about soft landing for economy

Feb 17, 2023

As concerns about the economy continue, one economist is optimistic. Justin Wolfers, professor of public policy and economics, recently talked with NPR to discuss his economic analysis and predictions. "You're talking to an economist who is going...

In the Media

Is the economy good? Wolfers says yes

Feb 3, 2023 Vox

Justin Wolfers, Vox: "If you want a dramatic one-word answer, the answer is yes. Unemployment’s at a 50-year low, that’s the standard metric for thinking about how the economy is performing. Job growth is continuing, so it’s not only good, it’s...

In the Media

Stevenson breaks down latest jobs report with The New York Times

Feb 3, 2023 New York Times

Betsey Stevenson, New York Times: "Basically, the hesitation and confusion that I think made it harder for employers and workers to find each other in the early parts of the recovery has started to abate. People are applying for jobs, and employers...

Stevensom SRM Subcommittee Hearing Teaser Display

In the Media

Job creation is 'unimaginably positive' - Wolfers

Feb 3, 2023 Michigan Radio

Justin Wolfers, Michigan Radio: "The U.S. economy is now creating jobs at a rate that is unimaginably positive. 2022 was the second fastest rate of job creation in American...

In the Media

Stevenson analyzes September job report

Oct 10, 2022 DBusiness

Betsey Stevenson, DBusiness: "The job growth in September came largely from industries that drove pre-pandemic job growth, but have struggled in the wake of the...

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Wolfers provides expertise on current state of economy

Sep 9, 2022

Justin Wolfers, professor of public policy and economics, has made numerous appearances in the media recently, providing his expertise on the current state of our economy. Here is a compilation of his recent contributions: 'Both a warning and a...

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Stevenson on jobs, inflation, and the search for the Goldilocks economy

Jun 6, 2022

Ford School economics professor Betsey Stevenson was widely sought after for analysis after a strong monthly jobs report. Here are some excerpts of her appearances: Taming Inflation, CBS Face the Nation, June 5, 2022 It's important to realize...

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Farley breaks down 2020 Census

Apr 13, 2022

Last week, the city of Detroit filed a claim with the Census Bureau, arguing its residents were undercounted in 2020. Ford School lecturer Reynolds Farley discussed the undercount. “This census was deficient in Detroit,” he said. “They didn’t...

Photo of Ren Farley speaking into a megaphone as he leads a tour of U-M students in downtown Detroit

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Stevenson and Wolfers discuss latest jobs report

Apr 4, 2022

The labor market is still booming, according to the latest jobs report. Justin Wolfers and Betsey Stevenson, both professors of public policy and economics, broke down what the jobs report means for Americans. "I do think it more likely that the...

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Wolfers weighs in on inflation

Feb 16, 2022

Americans are becoming increasingly worried about inflation. Justin Wolfers, professor of public policy and economics, discussed the Federal Reserve's current approach to intervening in the economy to address the issue. "The mechanism by which...

In the Media

Wolfers discusses state of the economy

Feb 8, 2022 WDET

Justin Wolfers, professor of public policy and economics, recently appeared on WDET to talk about the economy, inflation, and jobs. "People are complaining about rising prices and inflation. That’s their concern right now. It’s not about jobs,"...

In the Media

Not all Americans included in economic recovery - Wolfers

Feb 6, 2022 Los Angeles Times

The latest jobs report reflects a strong, recovering economy. But, Justin Wolfers, professor of public policy and economics, explained that not all Americans are feeling the effects of recovery. "A lot of people, particularly older people, have...

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Stevenson weighs in on January jobs report

Feb 6, 2022

The January jobs report revealed strong employment gains, with 467,000 jobs added in January. Betsey Stevenson, professor of public policy and economics, analyzed the report for numerous media outlets. The jobgains occurred in the midst of a...

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Stevenson discusses the Great Resignation and inflation

Feb 1, 2022

Betsey Stevenson, professor of public policy and economics, recently talked to Al Jazeera about the Great Resignation – the phenomenon of millions of Americans voluntarily leaving their jobs. She explained what's going on behind the...

In the Media

Stevenson discusses job report calculations

Jan 10, 2022 CNBC

Recent government job reports have consistently undercounted the number of jobs created. Revisions are made regularly pushing those numbers up. Betsey Stevenson, professor of public policy and economics, explained how she estimates total jobs...

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Why slowing labor market exits and expanding child care may be key to economic recovery—Stevenson

Dec 16, 2021

This week, Betsey Stevenson spoke with Yahoo! Finance on the state of the labor market and Marketplace about rising inflation. In a lengthy interview with Yahoo! Finance, Stevenson noted that “If we filled every single job opening that's out...

In the Media

Stevenson and Wolfers on 'The Great Reallocation'

Dec 8, 2021 The New York Times

Writing in The New York Times, Betsey Stevenson and Justin Wolfers shared their views on what the future of work looks like in 2022—an economic upheaval they call "The Great Reallocation"—which just may lead to a more humane labor market. They...

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Wolfers provides analysis on jobs, inflation

Dec 5, 2021

As the omicron variant spreads, the impact it will have on the fragile economic recovery remains uncertain. Justin Wolfers, professor of public policy and economics, talked to numerous media outlets about economic recovery, the jobs report, and...

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Wolfers breaks down jobs report in NYT op-ed

Dec 3, 2021

Following the release of the November jobs report, Justin Wolfers, professor of public policy and economics, broke down what it means in an op-ed in The New York Times. "This chill in employment might lead one to conclude the economy’s too cold,...

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Stevenson on Build Back Better, inflation, and unemployment

Nov 28, 2021

Betsey Stevenson countered arguments against President Biden’s Build Back Better legislation as the bill passed the House and moved into the Senate. “There is just absolute historic investment in childcare that is really going to benefit so many...

Photo of Betsey Stevenson leading a class

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Stevenson discusses labor market recovery

Nov 17, 2021

Betsy Stevenson offered insights on the labor market and the road to post-pandemic recovery. Talking about cash assistance programs during the pandemic with Slate, Stevenson said, “We made people better off by giving them money, and I know...

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Stevenson talks American jobs, federal bills, and the tampon tax

Nov 11, 2021

Betsy Stevenson weighed in on labor market recovery, the job market, the tampon tax, and more. On labor market recovery While most of the United States seems to be recovering from the worst parts of the pandemic, the job crisis it caused is...

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Stevenson reflects on the repercussions of COVID-19

Nov 4, 2021

Betsy Stevenson observed key economic indicators and the continuing effects of COVID-19 this week. At Wednesday’s CNBC Workforce Executive Council Summit, she said, “People seem to be fed up and leaving work...There are a lot of different things...

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Stevenson evaluates labor market and encourages social spending for long-term recovery

Oct 29, 2021

This week, Betsey Stevenson helped make sense of the data coming from national jobs reports and unemployment numbers. "The percentage of Americans employed fell off a cliff in the early pandemic. We’re now 75 percent of the way back up that...

In the Media

Stevenson dissects September Jobs Report

Oct 8, 2021 Moody's Talks

Today, Betsey Stevenson, professor of public policy and economics, appeared on Moody's Talks: Inside Economics to discuss the September jobs report. "If you turn to the employment report, it wasn’t that stark, but you still see the same pattern....

In the Media

'The virus is the economy' - Wolfers

Sep 3, 2021 Fox Business News

After a few months of economic recovery, the delta variant is slowing down the economy yet again. "Today's dreadful jobs report - which basically put the recovery on ice for a while - is yet another reminder that the virus is the economy," Justin...

In the Media

Levy explains connection between Medicaid and more jobs

May 23, 2021 NPR Marketplace

According to NPR Marketplace, if the 14 states that have not expanded Medicaid do, they would create more than a million jobs in 2022. Helen Levy, a research professor at the U-M Institute for Social Research with a courtesy appointment at the Ford...