Jobs & the Economy

Massachusetts Poverty Rate Flat, Median Income Growth Slowed in 2017

Jobs & the Economy, Kids / By

The U.S. Census Bureau recently released new data from its American Community Survey (ACS), allowing us to see how Massachusetts residents fared economically last year. Although the state has made significant gains in poverty reduction and income growth in recent years, especially since the recession, year-over-year progress began to slow in 2017. Compared to 2016, the poverty rate was essentially flat, and median household income grew at a much slower pace.

Who Pays? Low and Middle Earners in Massachusetts Pay Larger Share of their Incomes in Taxes

Jobs & the Economy, Taxes / By

Taxes are the main way communities pay for the things we do together. Taxes pay for essential programs and infrastructure we take for granted, like fire protection, public education, and health inspectors; roads, bridges, and public transit; and the support for people facing hard times. Examining how much people at different income levels pay in taxes is important when considering the fairness of tax policy.

Keeping Massachusetts Working for Workers: Policy Gains in 2018 and Possibilities Beyond

Jobs & the Economy / By

For Labor Day 2018, this brief looks at the gains Massachusetts workers made in 2018 — passing a $15 minimum wage, creating a paid family and medical leave program, and increasing the state's Earned Income Tax Credit to 30 percent of the federal credit — as well a handful of other options for making further improvements to the lives of workers and their families across the commonwealth.

Tending to the Nest Egg: Plan Could Help Nonprofit Workers Build Retirement Security

Jobs & the Economy / By

Many Massachusetts workers are unable to save enough money for themselves to retire on. This is partly because setting up and managing retirement plans is often too expensive for small and employers. In late 2017, Massachusetts launched a state-administered 401(k) plan that can begin to address some of these challenges. Small nonprofits, with 20 employees or fewer, can participate in the plan.

Time to Care: The Health Effects of Paid Family & Medical Leave

Health, Jobs & the Economy, Kids / By

In healthy communities, children are more likely to be born healthy and can grow up to be healthy adults. When people are healthy they are better able to reach their full potential and make lasting contributions to society. Health is influenced by a variety of complex factors, such as where one lives, access to healthy foods, and affordability of health care. Policies that address the ability of workers to care for family members, like Paid Family and Medical Leave (PFML), can also shape and influence health.

Teens, Employment, and the Minimum Wage

archive, Jobs & the Economy / By

More than 104,000 teens (16- to 19-year-olds) work and actively contribute to the Massachusetts economy. As working teens, they learn job skills and gain experience and responsibility. Many working teens also play important roles in helping meet financial needs for not only their families but also for themselves, like paying for college. This brief looks at who teen workers are, their contributions to family income, how a sub-minimum wage could affect teen workers, and whether there have been adverse effects on teen employment from minimum wage increases.

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