Helping people understand how COVID-19 affects work and employment by sharing insights and help from ILR's workplace experts.
Public Policy
Children Impacted Unequally by COVID-Related Job Losses
College of Human Ecology Professor Kelly Musick and research colleagues find that job losses caused by COVID-19 disproportionately hurt Latinx, Black and lower-income children.
Research on Social Influence can be Applied to Vaccination Choice: ILR Professor
In a recent interview, ILR School Associate Professor Vanessa Bohns discussed how sharing information about receiving a COVID-19 vaccine can impact other people’s choices.
Research Identifies Workers Who Should be First for Vaccine
Frontline workers, the most vulnerable among essential workers, are most in need of the vaccine, according to a research team including labor economist Francine Blau.
Use the School District COVID-19 Tracker to understand pandemic patterns
Use the School District COVID-19 Tracker as an interactive mapping tool to understand the impact of the coronavirus pandemic on New York State.
An Alternative to Mass Unemployment: Short-time Programs
Short-time compensation is a relatively low-cost program that already exists in many states to prevent or at least slow mass unemployment. With some reforms, it could protect many more U.S. jobs.
How COVID-19’s Job Disruptions Vary by Gender, Race and Hispanic Ethnicity in August 2020
Women, African American and Hispanic workers are faring markedly worse than men and white workers.
August 7 Job Report: Tips on What to Consider
Erica Groshen provides insight on some of the most significant numbers in the upcoming national employment report recapping July job numbers.
Digital Currency Plan Would Provide Rapid Payments to Recipients In and Beyond the Pandemic
This piece hosts discussions about digital currency in light of the pandemic through work by Cornell Professor Robert Hockett.
Opinion – All Undocumented Immigrants Deserve Citizenship – Not Just Essential Workers
Shannon Gleeson outlines the situation faced by undocumented workers, and discusses potential futures for them including pathways to citizenship and their relationship.
What’s the Connection between COVID-19 and Climate Change? Inequality
The triple crises of COVID-19, climate change and soaring inequality present a moment of great peril and opportunity for the U.S.
Job Market Conditions Remain Dire
In June, COVID-19 was still disrupting the jobs of over 24 million workers comprising about 15 percent of the labor force in February.
Reopening Schools Will Take Community Collaboration
When tensions start to rise over school reopening details, communities can rally around anthems reminding them to negotiate in ways that will benefit children.
New York State is Reopening, But Weekly Unemployment Claims Have Started to Climb Again
Russell Weaver explains the numbers behind rising unemployment claims as New York State reopens.
Work, Workers, and Public Policy During a Pandemic
Recorded June 8 - Former Acting U.S. Secretary of Labor Seth Harris discusses the pandemic-related public policy issues affecting workers, labor markets, and workplaces.
Now more than ever: be fair to direct care
YTI's Ellice Switzer discusses how the pandemic has created an elevated risk for many types of essential workers.
Racial and Economic Inequality in NYS within the Context of the Pandemic and Protests against Racism
The average annual salary from 2014 to 2018 in New York state for a white worker was $60,808 as compared to $40,707 for a black worker in New York state, according to U.S. Census Bureau data.
Tracking Unemployment in New York State
A June 3 report will provide more accurate figures about unemployment in New York state.
Weekly UI Claims in New York Reach Highest Total in Six Weeks, as National Numbers Continue to Fall
Russell Weaver shows that New York State unemployment-insurance claims have reached a high while national numbers drop.
What is New York State’s Current Unemployment Rate?
Russell Weaver helps answer the pressing question: "What is New York's unemployment rate?"
True Resilience Involves Pushing Forward From COVID-19, Not Just Bouncing Back
Russell Weaver asks whether we really want to "bounce back," instead of building better systems after the pandemic.
Impact on the Workforce and People with Disabilities
YTI's Thomas Golden discusses recent survey results that cover the impact of COVID-19 on Americans with disabilities and employment.
Weekly Claims Continue to Fluctuate Despite Downward National Trend
Russell Weaver outlines fluctuations in unemployment-insurance benefit claims in the context of national trends.
Large Drop in Weekly UI Claims Though Totals Remain at Historic Levels
Russell Weaver explains the recent changes in national and New York State unemployment insurance claim numbers.
Who are the Frontline Workers? Why Does Hazard Pay Make Sense?
ILR Professor Francine Blau is the lead author of an analysis, published by “ECONOFACT,” of frontline workers and their pay.
Weekly UI Claims Still at Staggering Levels; New Unemployment Estimates – Implications for New York State
Russell Weaver helps answer the question: What might the report of UI cmails foretell about unemployment in New York State?
It Matters that Most COVID Layoffs in March were Furloughs
Erica Groshen explains how a dose of good news in March can be found in the difference between furloughs and layoffs.
COVID-19: What Unemployment Delays Mean for Newly Unemployed Workers
The processing capacity of state departments of labor are outpaced by an unprecedented volume of unemployment claims and call for emergency relief measures.
What Do the Economic Numbers Mean?
The national unemployment rate could go up to 20 percent in April, says ILR's Erica Groshen.
Unemployment Insurance: Taking Stock in New York State
Understand changes to unemployment insurance in the first five weeks of the coronavirus crisis and beyond.
State and local government agencies need to identify flexible public funding that can provide rapid assistance to newly unemployed workers.
Who is an Essential Worker in NYS?
Exactly who is deemed an "essential worker" in New York state?
U.S. Government Mandates COVID-19 Paid Leave
The Federal Families First Coronavirus Response Act -- here's how it works.
How the CARES Act Impacts Workers
Learn what the CARES Act does for for working people, low-income people and gig workers.
Mapping Workers at Risk of Layoffs and Loss of Health Care
Which New York state residents are most likely to lose their jobs? Where do they live and what do they do?
Economic Impact of Coronavirus
ILR Visiting Scholar Erica Groshen, who served as commissioner of the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, discussed on the “Capital Pressroom” radio program how the economy has been stunned by the coronavirus.
Labor Relations and Superbugs: ILR Research
ILR School Associate Professors Ariel Avgar and Adam Litwin are co-authors of a 2017 study that is relevant to controlling the pandemic: the relationship between labor relations and germ transmission, including “superbugs.”
NYS Should Expand Prevailing Wage
In a “Gotham Gazette” opinion piece, ILR's Fred Kotler advocates for expanding the prevailing wage in New York state.
Surprise Medical Bills Loom Over ER Visits
Surprise medical bills of huge proportions follow many emergency room visits. Private equity firms that increasingly control hospitals are often to blame and need to stop the practice, particularly during the pandemic, writes Professor Rose Batt.