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About the Institute

About us

The Worker Institute at Cornell engages in research and education on contemporary labor issues, to generate innovative thinking and solutions to problems related to work, economy and society. The institute brings together researchers, educators and students with practitioners in labor, business and policymaking to confront growing economic and social inequalities, in the interests of working people and their families. A core value of the Worker Institute is that collective representation and workers’ rights are vital to a fair economy, robust democracy and just society. Learn more about all of our offerings.

Worker Institute

Core Offerings

The Worker Institute serves as a hub for policy research, publication, and training for policymakers, entrepreneurs, and activists engaged in the public debate to reduce economic inequality.

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Student Engagement

Student Engagement

The Worker Institute is committed to engaging Cornell ILR undergraduate and graduate students through our courses, research fellowships, graduate programs and other professional development opportunities.

 

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Learn more about our work with students.

In the News

Media Mentions

Employers Fear Labor Shortage as Many Immigrants Lose Protected Status

The New York Times
“They have devoted their entire years of productivity to this country,” says Patrica Campos-Medina, executive director of ILR’s Worker Institute – and co-author of the report “We Are Home: TPS Workers Belong Here” – describing the contributions to the U.S. of Central Americans with Temporary Protected Status.
Employers Fear Labor Shortage as Many Immigrants Lose Protected Status

Temporary Protected Status is set to expire for Haitians. That could be a significant loss to Long Island communities and employers.

Newsday
New York state has 98,250 workers with TPS, most of whom come from Haiti and Venezuela, according to a study from ILR’s Worker Institute.
Temporary Protected Status is set to expire for Haitians. That could be a significant loss to Long Island communities and employers.

Cornell study shows impact of immigrant workers on New York economy and communities

WBNG
The economic and community impact of immigrant workers with Temporary Protected Status in New York state is the focus of a new report from ILR’s Worker Institute, called “We Are Home: Workers with TPS Belong Here.”
Cornell study shows impact of immigrant workers on New York economy and communities

Cornell report shows immigrant, temporary workers contribute to NY economy

FingerLakes1.com
A new report from ILR’s Worker Institute found that immigrants in New York with Temporary Protected Status have strong attachments to their New York communities, are highly engaged in civic and political organizations and view the United States as their home.
Cornell report shows immigrant, temporary workers contribute to NY economy

Workers With Temporary Protected Status Aid NYS’s Economy, Society

Cornell Chronicle
Central Americans with TPS status make significant contributions to New York’s economy and civic and political organizations, an ILR School report says.
Workers With Temporary Protected Status Aid NYS’s Economy, Society

Morning Report: A rough start to the new U.S.-Iran deal

Marketplace
“Diversity is always good business practice, because you bring different voices to a problem … That’s what we’re missing by not being able to track it,” says Patrica Campos-Medina, executive director of ILR’s Worker Institute, about the dropped EEOC requirement for federal agencies to report certain demographic data.
Morning Report: A rough start to the new U.S.-Iran deal

Blog: Latest News and Events

Read more stories from the Worker Institute Blog

Welcome to the 2026–2027 Cohort of the Union Leadership Institute (ULI)

On July 14, Labor Leadership Initiatives at ILR welcomed the 2026–2027 New York State AFL-CIO/Cornell University Union Leadership Institute (ULI) cohort.
ULI Class of 2026-2027
Welcome to the 2026–2027 Cohort of the Union Leadership Institute (ULI)

TPS We Are Home Report

The report entitled We Are Home; TPS Workers Belong Here, written by Patricia Campos-Medina and Natalia Navas, examines the experiences of Central American TPS workers in New York state and finds these TPS holders overwhelmingly view New York and the United States as their home.
TPS Report Launch
TPS We Are Home Report

Collective Representation as a Response to Worker Precarity in the Green Jobs Economy

Collective Representation as a Response to Worker Precarity in the Green Jobs Economy, hosted by ILR School’s Worker Institute in partnership with the Climate Jobs Institute, highlighted the need for community-driven approaches in developing high-quality green energy jobs and infrastructure.
Two technicians wearing hardhats, talking on solar rooftop
Collective Representation as a Response to Worker Precarity in the Green Jobs Economy

Lois Gray Innovation Initiative 

Lois Gray, ILR School faculty member

 

The Lois Gray Innovation Initiative was founded by labor pioneer Lois Gray to generate innovative thinking and solutions to problems related to work, economy, and society.

The Lois Gray Innovation Fund provide financial incentives for collaboration between resident and extension faculty in relation to priority programs of The Worker Institute.

It ensures faculty, researchers and students have the opportunity to fulfill the institute’s mission of advancing worker rights and collective representation.

Explore the initiative