WPI Labor Day Report 2023 – Employee Rights/ Labour Relations – United States
WPI Labor Day Report 2023 - Employee Rights/ Labour Relations ... Mondaq News Alerts
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The Current State of the U.S. Workforce and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
Introduction
The post-pandemic labor market remains tight, although there are signs of its loosening. For much of the past year, there were approximately two job openings per unemployed individual, but in July that ratio fell to 1.5 job openings. This labor supply and demand gap has, in some industries, helped shift the balance of power from employers to workers, contributing to increased union organizing efforts and notable strike activity, even while the overall union membership rate continues to decline. “Loud quitting” is gaining on “quiet quitting” as workers become more actively than passively disengaged at work. At the same time, the rates at which employers are hiring and employees are leaving their jobs have decreased slightly in recent months, indicating employees may be becoming more cautious about their employment decisions, and the balance of labor market power might be gravitating back to employers.
While the pandemic and its after-effects certainly played a role in the tight labor market, underlying demographic and policy shifts were already underway. The aging workforce has and will continue to impact hiring and decrease labor force participation rates. In addition, declining immigration has reduced the aggregate labor supply.
Addressing Workforce Issues and the SDGs
Effectively addressing these and other workforce issues has been challenging. Congressional gridlock at the federal level means that many significant labor and employment changes are occurring through state and local legislative bodies, federal agency regulations and policies, and Supreme Court opinions. This presents an opportunity to align these changes with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) set by the United Nations.
The SDGs provide a framework for sustainable development across various sectors, including decent work and economic growth (SDG 8), reduced inequalities (SDG 10), and partnerships for the goals (SDG 17). By incorporating the principles and targets of the SDGs into labor and employment policies, the United States can work towards creating a more inclusive, equitable, and sustainable workforce.
Key Questions Addressed in this Report
- What is the current state of the U.S. workforce, and why are so many strikes suddenly making headlines?
- Which federal agency actions have been most significant for employers this year, and what can we expect from the National Labor Relations Board, Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, Department of Labor, and the Department of Homeland Security in the months ahead?
- How has the U.S. Supreme Court revised employment law this year, and what major questions are ahead for the 2024-2025 term?
- Which state legislatures have been most active this year, and what are the trending topics for new local laws?
We hope this WPI Report provides some insight into these questions and encourages discussions on how to align workforce policies with the SDGs.
Click here to read the full WPI Report.
The content of this article is intended to provide a general guide to the subject matter. Specialist advice should be sought about your specific circumstances.
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SDGs, Targets, and Indicators in the Article
1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?
- SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth
- SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities
- SDG 4: Quality Education
2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?
- SDG 8.5: By 2030, achieve full and productive employment and decent work for all women and men, including for young people and persons with disabilities, and equal pay for work of equal value.
- SDG 10.4: Adopt policies, especially fiscal, wage and social protection policies, and progressively achieve greater equality.
- SDG 4.4: By 2030, substantially increase the number of youth and adults who have relevant skills, including technical and vocational skills, for employment, decent jobs and entrepreneurship.
3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?
- Ratio of job openings to unemployed individuals: This indicator reflects the labor supply and demand gap, which can be used to assess progress towards achieving full and productive employment (SDG 8.5).
- Union organizing efforts and strike activity: These indicators demonstrate the balance of power between employers and workers, contributing to the goal of achieving greater equality (SDG 10.4).
- Rates of hiring and employee turnover: These indicators provide insights into the cautiousness of employees in their employment decisions and can be used to measure progress towards decent work and employment (SDG 8.5).
- Investment in re- and up-skilling programs: This indicator reflects progress towards increasing the number of individuals with relevant skills for employment and decent jobs (SDG 4.4).
Table: SDGs, Targets, and Indicators
| SDGs | Targets | Indicators |
|---|---|---|
| SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth | SDG 8.5: By 2030, achieve full and productive employment and decent work for all women and men, including for young people and persons with disabilities, and equal pay for work of equal value. | – Ratio of job openings to unemployed individuals – Rates of hiring and employee turnover |
| SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities | SDG 10.4: Adopt policies, especially fiscal, wage and social protection policies, and progressively achieve greater equality. | – Union organizing efforts and strike activity |
| SDG 4: Quality Education | SDG 4.4: By 2030, substantially increase the number of youth and adults who have relevant skills, including technical and vocational skills, for employment, decent jobs and entrepreneurship. | – Investment in re- and up-skilling programs |
Behold! This splendid article springs forth from the wellspring of knowledge, shaped by a wondrous proprietary AI technology that delved into a vast ocean of data, illuminating the path towards the Sustainable Development Goals. Remember that all rights are reserved by SDG Investors LLC, empowering us to champion progress together.
Source: mondaq.com
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