The Hamilton Project

"Has pay kept up with inflation?" data interactive by The Hamilton Project

Is pay keeping up with inflation? We’ve updated our wage tracker with the latest data through Q2 2025. Try it out for #FigureFriday: www.hamiltonproject.org/data/has-pay...

'Hunger never stops': What's in the $40 food boxes Iowa is giving instead of Summer EBT Food pantries across Iowa are taking part in the Healthy Kids Iowa pilot, which gives $40 worth of food monthly to 65,000 kids from June to August.

“I am of the mind that hunger for children is a solvable problem,” @laurenhlb.bsky.social‬ told the Des Moines Register’s @svhernandez.bsky.social and @writefelissa.bsky.social. “And it does require an all-of-the-above strategy.”

Read about the crucial role Summer EBT plays in combating hunger:

@hamiltonproject.org's trade tracker is updated through May/June.

Check it out here:

www.hamiltonproject.org/data/trackin...

#EconSky #Trade

Tracking work permit applications among eligible immigrants - The Hamilton Project Tracking work permit applications can illuminate how changes in the pace of immigration are affecting labor supply.

Immigrants play a crucial role in the U.S. economy and workforce. Our tracker—now updated with data through June 2025—offers insight into how changes in the pace of immigration are affecting labor supply.

Summer School 3: How government decides what to spend our money on : Planet Money Although it seems like the government can spend an endless amount of money, it cannot actually do all the things it wants to do. So the big question in this week's lesson is: How do we decide? Why…

What does the government spend money on, and why does the federal debt matter? Hear from @avivaaron-dine.bsky.social on @npr.org’s @planetmoney.bsky.social:

Remote work rates stabilize in US and Texas, especially among educated workers and parents "I think that what the pandemic showed is that flexibility is important to all kinds of workers."

“Now that telework is more widely available, we’re seeing many different workers availing themselves of this option.” @laurenhlb.bsky.social spoke to @texasstandard.bsky.social about our new analysis of prime-age labor force participation:

Want to dig deep into federal funding? 🔎 Our federal expenditures tracker is updated with the latest Monthly Treasury Statement. www.hamiltonproject.org/data/trackin...

Our interactives provide data-driven insights into the economy. 📊📈 For #FigureFriday, explore:
- SNAP payment error rates www.hamiltonproject.org/data/snap-pa...
- Federal expenditures www.hamiltonproject.org/data/trackin...
- Work permit applications www.hamiltonproject.org/data/trackin...

Newsletter Signup - The Hamilton Project Sign up to receive The Hamilton Project's newsletter, with updates on The Hamilton Project’s research, events, and news.

Don't miss out on THP’s latest research, economic insights, and policy recommendations. Sign up for our newsletter here:

A federal guarantee for earned paid time off - The Hamilton Project Betsey Stevenson proposes a federal earned paid time off policy that would apply to all workers and all types of leave.

In her proposal, @betseystevenson.bsky.social offers a modernization of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) that would give all workers access to earned paid time off. 3/3 www.hamiltonproject.org/publication/...

115 years later, the U.S. is the only high-income country that does not guarantee workers paid time off as part of national workplace standards. 2/

New York Times, 1910. "Taft Speaks Out for Long Vacations." July 23, 1910. https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1910/07/23/issue.html.

On this day in 1910, President William Howard Taft argued that everyone should take three months off each year because there “is such a thing as exhausting the capital of one’s health and constitution.” 1/

Figure 1 of "Low-income workers experience—by far—the most earnings and work hours instability"

Figure 3 of "Work requirements penalize workers in volatile occupations"

Low-income workers often experience volatility in employment, earnings, and work hours, which can limit their ability to meet work requirements.

This #FigureFriday, explore our recent work on volatility:
- www.hamiltonproject.org/publication/...
- www.hamiltonproject.org/publication/...

SNAP payment error rates by state, FY 2003–24 - The Hamilton Project This data interactive shows SNAP payment error rates for the U.S. and for each state from fiscal year 2003 through fiscal year 2024.

Explore your state’s SNAP payment error rates for FY 2003 through FY 2024: www.hamiltonproject.org/data/snap-pa...

Trump’s bill could cost Pennsylvania $800M in food aid cuts Pennsylvania could be on the hook for $800M to continue food assistance for thousands of residents, many of them children and older adults.

“It’s a very imprecise estimate that is now going to have very, very big consequences.” @laurenhlb.bsky.social spoke to @spotlightpa.org about using SNAP payment error rates to push SNAP benefit costs onto states: www.spotlightpa.org/news/2025/07...

Improving academic outcomes for disadvantaged students - The Hamilton Project The authors propose a daily, individualized tutorial program for students who have fallen behind grade level in math.

Students who fall behind grade level can experience major difficulties in later grades and in the workforce. Roseanna Ander, Jonathan Guryan, and Jens Ludwig propose scaling up an individualized tutorial program to help students who are behind grade level reengage with regular classroom instruction.

Encouraging geographic mobility at college entry and exit - The Hamilton Project Abigail Wozniak proposes two modifications to existing Federal Student Aid programs that would encourage mobility.

Geography is an important part of economic opportunity—but due to monetary and nonmonetary costs of migration, geographic mobility at college entry and exit is falling. Abigail Wozniak suggests modifications to Federal Student Aid programs to reduce geographic barriers at college entrance and exit.

Improving workforce development in the United States - The Hamilton Project Harry J. Holzer offers policies to build a stronger and more coherent workforce development system in the United States.

The U.S. workforce development system generates weak outcomes in the aggregate, contributing to inequality and low upward mobility among poorer Americans. Harry Holzer offers reforms to improve occupational training and retraining for disadvantaged students and displaced workers.

World Youth Skills Day recognizes the importance of equipping youth with the skills for employment, decent work, and entrepreneurship.

This #YouthSkillsDay, explore three THP policy proposals on improving youth education and workforce training: ⬇️

Watch coverage of our analysis of prime-age labor force participation, with @alivitali.bsky.social on @msnbc.com’s @waytooearly.bsky.social: www.msnbc.com/way-too-earl...

➡️ Read the analysis here: www.hamiltonproject.org/publication/...

This summer, many young adults will relocate to attend college or start their careers. Due to financial costs and other barriers, many others won’t.

This #FigureFriday, Abigail Wozniak makes the case for encouraging mobility to improve economic opportunity: www.hamiltonproject.org/publication/...

Seven economic facts about prime-age labor force participation | Brookings This set of economic facts takes stock of the labor market through May 2025, paying particular attention to prime-age labor force participation.

U.S. labor force participation has been rising for young women and falling for young men. A new analysis from @hamiltonproject.org examines post-pandemic dynamics in the labor market.

NEW: These seven economic facts take stock of the labor market through May 2025, highlighting key trends in prime-age (ages 25–54) labor force participation. 📊
www.hamiltonproject.org/publication/...

Women in their 20s and 30s are working more than ever before And the workforce looks different than it did a generation ago, as more young men than ever before are staying home to care for family instead.

“The American economy owes prime age women, especially mothers, a debt of gratitude for helping the economy climb out.” @laurenhlb.bsky.social spoke to @19thnews.org’s @chabeli.bsky.social about our new analysis of prime-age labor force participation:

Seven economic facts about prime-age labor force participation - The Hamilton Project This set of economic facts takes stock of the labor market through May 2025, paying particular attention to prime-age labor force participation.

In the five years since the COVID-19 pandemic began, prime-age employment has returned to—and exceeded—pre-pandemic levels. @avivaaron-dine.bsky.social, @laurenhlb.bsky.social, and Eileen Powell dive deeper into post-pandemic dynamics in prime-age labor force participation:

Education - The Hamilton Project Increasing educational attainment for all is central to broad-based economic opportunity and competitiveness.

Explore more of our education work: www.hamiltonproject.org/topics/educa...

Follow us for more data-driven analysis, and sign up for our newsletter to get updates on our latest research, policy proposals, and events: www.hamiltonproject.org/signup/

Figure 1 of "The long-term impact of the Head Start program," titled "Effect of Early Education on High School Graduation Rates"

School’s out, it’s summer time ☀️ In the summer of 1965, Head Start launched as an eight-week program for preschool children in low-income families.

This #FigureFriday, learn more about the program’s long-term impact on participants and their children: www.hamiltonproject.org/publication/...

Seven economic facts about prime-age labor force participation - The Hamilton Project This set of economic facts takes stock of the labor market through May 2025, paying particular attention to prime-age labor force participation.

Get ready for #JobsDay with a new set of economic facts about prime-age labor force participation:

For #jobsday, @avivaaron-dine.bsky.social, Eileen Powell, and I take stock of the labor market as of May.

Women are remarkable.

www.hamiltonproject.org/publication/...

Women in their 20s and 30s are working more than ever before And the workforce looks different than it did a generation ago, as more young men than ever before are staying home to care for family instead.

Young women are now working at higher rates than ever, pursuing careers and financial stability, while young men are staying home and taking on a greater share of caregiving, according to new research from ‪@laurenhlb.bsky.social‬ at @hamiltonproject.org:

19thnews.org/2025/07/wome...