Jobs and Economy

Years after the official end of the recent recession, America is still in a jobs crisis. Although job growth is slowly picking up steam--with steady private sector job creation--we still have a long way to go. Job losses came on top of decades of inadequate job growth, wage stagnation and growing inequality. The U.S. economy is increasingly imbalanced, with the top 1 percent holding more than 40 percent of the nation’s wealth.

The AFL-CIO is ready to work with anyone—business, government, investors—who wants to create good jobs and help restore America's middle class and challenge policies that stand in the way of giving America the chance to go back to work. The union movement is partnering with such organizations as the Clinton Global Initiative to find innovative ways to create good jobs that support workers and their families.

More about this issue:

Sep 18

Today is the day for NYC Labor to come together in solidarity with the 1,800 striking cable workers, march across the Brooklyn Bridge, and rally in Foley Square. The workers at Charter/Spectrum have been on strike for six months, and we are with them in their fight for a fair contract.

Aug 31, 2017 | News Story

Each Labor Day, Ruth Milkman and Stephanie Luce of the Joseph S. Murphy Institute for Worker Education and Labor Studies release their annual State of the Unions. The report includes a comprehensive profile of organized labor at the city, state, and national level.

Aug 31, 2017 | News Story

This week, Teamsters Local 814 announced it has reached a

Aug 31, 2017 | News Story

On Wednesday, 13 of the 17 union workers at The Village Voice were told that they were being

Aug 18, 2017 | News Story

Today we gathered at City Hall with members of Workers' United SEIU, Theatrical Wardrobe Union Local 764 IATSE, Manhattan Borough President Gale Brewer, Congressman Jerry Nadler, Senators Brad Hoylman and Marisol Alcantara, and fashion designers like Anna Sui and Nicole Miller to release the Garm

Aug 18, 2017 | News Story

On Wednesday, the largely immigrant workforce at Sims Municipal Recycling in Sunset Park, Brooklyn counted a major victory when they

Aug 18, 2017 | News Story

This week, in the wake of President Trump’s offensive remarks about white supremacist violence in Charlottesville, Virginia, AFL-CIO representatives President Richard Trumka and Deputy Chief of Staff Thea Lee announced their resignation from Trump’s American Manufacturing Council.

Sep 1, 2017 | Press Release

On this and every Labor Day, we honor the men and women who keep New York City up and running. We represent workers from all three sectors of the labor movement, all backgrounds, and all walks of life, and we all play an important role in helping to keep NYC a world class, union-made city.

Jul 28, 2017 | News Story

This Thursday, New York City announced it is