Wages & Labor Standards
ILEPI’s research assesses how labor market institutions, industry standards, and labor-management cooperation impact the economy, employment, working conditions, wages, and inequality. ILEPI also evaluates the socioeconomic impact of public policies on various economic sectors and demographic groups.
Featured Work:
The Effects of the Global Pandemic on Illinois Workers: An Analysis of Essential, Face-to-Face, and Remote Workers During COVID-19
June 4, 2020 | By Frank Manzo IV and Robert Bruno
Policy BriefRaising the Minimum Wage to $15 in Chicago by 2021: Effects on Incomes, Employment, and Prices
September 5, 2019 | By Frank Manzo IV and Robert Bruno
Policy BriefThe State of the Unions 2019: A Profile of Unionization in Chicago, in Illinois, and in the United States
September 2, 2019 | By Frank Manzo IV, Robert Bruno, and Virginia Parks
Research ReportThe Regional Impacts of a $15 Minimum Wage in Illinois: Estimates for Six Regions
February 5, 2019 | By Frank Manzo IV and Robert Bruno
Policy BriefThe Effects of the Chicago Minimum Wage Ordinance: Higher Incomes with Little to No Impact on Employment, Hours, and Businesses in the First Two Years
June 29, 2018 | By Frank Manzo IV, Robert Bruno, and Robert Habans
Research ReportThe Impact of “Right-to-Work” Laws on Labor Market Outcomes in Three Midwest States: Evidence from Indiana, Michigan, and Wisconsin (2010-2016)
April 3, 2017 | By Frank Manzo IV and Robert Bruno
Research Report
Full List of Reports:
The Effects of the Global Pandemic on Illinois Workers: An Analysis of Essential, Face-to-Face, and Remote Workers During COVID-19
June 4, 2020 | By Frank Manzo IV and Robert Bruno
Policy BriefThe Impact of Construction Apprenticeship Programs in Minnesota: A Return-on-Investment Analysis
September 16, 2019 | By Frank Manzo IV, Robert Bruno, and Jill Manzo
Research ReportRaising the Minimum Wage to $15 in Chicago by 2021: Effects on Incomes, Employment, and Prices
September 5, 2019 | By Frank Manzo IV and Robert Bruno
Policy BriefThe State of the Unions 2019: A Profile of Unionization in Chicago, in Illinois, and in the United States
September 2, 2019 | By Frank Manzo IV, Robert Bruno, and Virginia Parks
Research ReportThe Regional Impacts of a $15 Minimum Wage in Illinois: Estimates for Six Regions
February 5, 2019 | By Frank Manzo IV and Robert Bruno
Policy BriefAn Examination of the Economic Effects of a Potential Responsible Bidder Ordinance for St. Petersburg, FL
October 30, 2018 | By Frank Manzo IV, Kevin Duncan, and Dewey Caruthers
Policy BriefRaising the Minimum Wage: What $10, $13, or $15 Per Hour Would Mean for Illinois
October 25, 2018 | By Frank Manzo IV, Jill Manzo, and Robert Bruno
Policy BriefThe State of the Unions 2018: A Profile of Unionization in Chicago, in Illinois, and in the United States
September 12, 2018 | By Frank Manzo IV, Robert Bruno, and Virginia Parks
Research ReportThe State of the Unions 2018: A Profile of Unionization in Minnesota and in the United States
September 12, 2018 | By Jill Manzo, Monica Bielski Boris, Frank Manzo IV, and Virginia Parks
Research ReportThe State of the Unions 2018: A Profile of Unionization in Wisconsin and in the United States
September 12, 2018 | By Jill Manzo, Michael Childers, Don Taylor, Frank Manzo IV, and Robert Bruno
Research ReportThe Effects of the Chicago Minimum Wage Ordinance: Higher Incomes with Little to No Impact on Employment, Hours, and Businesses in the First Two Years
June 29, 2018 | By Frank Manzo IV, Robert Bruno, and Robert Habans
Research ReportFull-Time Incomes in Illinois: How Are You Doing This Tax Season? 2017
April 10, 2018 | By Jill Manzo
Economic CommentaryWomen in High-Ranking Positions: The Few, The Need, the Benefits
March 8, 2018 | By Jill Manzo
Economic CommentaryThe Potential Economic Consequences of a Highly Automated Construction Industry: What If Construction Becomes the Next Manufacturing?
January 17, 2018 | By Jill Manzo, Frank Manzo IV, and Robert Bruno
Research ReportThe State of the Unions 2017: A Profile of Unionization in Minnesota and in America
September 4, 2017 | By Jill Manzo, Frank Manzo IV, Don Taylor, Michael Childers, and Robert Bruno
Research ReportThe State of the Unions 2017: A Profile of Unionization in Wisconsin and in the United States
September 4, 2017 | By Jill Manzo, Frank Manzo IV, Don Taylor, Michael Childers, and Robert Bruno
Research ReportThe State of the Unions 2017: A Profile of Unionization in Chicago, in Illinois, and in America
May 22, 2017 | By Frank Manzo IV, Virginia Parks, and Robert Bruno
Policy BriefUnion Membership Declined in “Right-to-Work” States and Increased in Collective-Bargaining States Last Year
May 10, 2017 | By Frank Manzo IV
MemoThe H-2B Guest Worker Program Unnecessarily Lowers Construction Worker Wages in Illinois
May 3, 2017 | By Frank Manzo IV
MemoThe Impact of “Right-to-Work” Laws on Labor Market Outcomes in Three Midwest States: Evidence from Indiana, Michigan, and Wisconsin (2010-2016)
April 3, 2017 | By Frank Manzo IV and Robert Bruno
Research ReportFull-Time Incomes in Illinois: How Are You Doing This Tax Season?
March 27, 2017 | By Frank Manzo IV
Economic CommentaryUnion Decline and Economic Redistribution: A Report on Twelve Midwest States
March 13, 2017 | By Frank Manzo IV and Robert Bruno
Research ReportThe High Cost of Construction Injuries and Fatalities: A Case Study of Iowa, Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Wisconsin
February 9, 2017 | By Jill Manzo and Frank Manzo IV
Economic CommentaryPolicies to Reduce African-American Unemployment: Investments in Education, Infrastructure, Public Employment, and Housing
February 6, 2017 | By Frank Manzo IV, Jill Manzo, and Robert Bruno
Economic CommentaryThe State of the Unions 2016: A Profile of Unionization in the Twin Cities, in Minnesota, and in America
September 5, 2016 | By Jill Manzo, Frank Manzo IV, Monica Bielski Boris, and Robert Bruno
Research ReportConstruction Careers versus Construction Jobs: A Case Study of Two Construction Sectors in the Twin Cities Region
August 31, 2016 | By Jill Manzo
Economic CommentaryThe Impact of Apprenticeship Programs in Illinois: An Analysis of Economic and Social Effects
August 24, 2016 | By Frank Manzo IV and Robert Bruno
Research ReportThe Impact of Construction Union Dues in Minnesota: An Organizational and Individual-Level Analysis
August 16, 2016 | By Frank Manzo IV, Jill Manzo, and Robert Bruno
Policy BriefThe Status of Female Workers in Illinois: Overrepresented in Unstable, Lower-Paying Sectors
August 1, 2016 | By Mira Staykova
Economic CommentaryThe State of the Unions 2016: A Profile of Unionization in Milwaukee, in Wisconsin, and in the United States
July 25, 2016 | By Frank Manzo IV, Jill Manzo, Don Taylor, Michael Childers, and Robert Bruno
Research ReportThe Costs and Benefits of International Trade in Illinois: Estimating Impacts on Manufacturing and the Economy
July 20, 2016 | By Frank Manzo IV, Jill Manzo, and Robert Bruno
Research ReportA Minimum-Wage Worker Cannot Afford a Modest Apartment: Evidence from Illinois, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Indiana, and Iowa
July 13, 2016 | By Frank Manzo IV and Mira Staykova
Policy BriefThe Most Equal and Unequal Jobs in Illinois: Occupational Employment Statistics
June 30, 2016 | By Frank Manzo IV
Economic CommentaryThe State of the Unions 2016: A Profile of Unionization in Iowa and in the United States
May 31, 2016 | By Frank Manzo IV, Jill Manzo, and Robert Bruno
Research ReportStates with Higher Minimum Wages Added More Jobs: April 2015 – April 2016
May 26, 2016 | By Frank Manzo IV
Economic CommentaryThe State of the Unions 2016: A Profile of Unionization in Indianapolis, in Indiana, and in the United States
May 23, 2016 | By Frank Manzo IV, Jill Manzo, and Robert Bruno
Research ReportThe State of the Unions 2016: A Profile of Unionization in Chicago, in Illinois, and in the United States
May 16, 2016 | By Frank Manzo IV, Virginia Parks, and Robert Bruno
Research ReportThe Rise of Wage Inequality in Illinois: In Two Graphs
May 11, 2016 | By Frank Manzo IV
Economic CommentaryThe Application and Impact of Labor Union Dues in Illinois: An Organizational and Individual-Level Analysis
April 13, 2016 | By Frank Manzo IV and Robert Bruno
Policy BriefThe History of Economic Inequality in Illinois: 1850 – 2014
March 4, 2016 | By Frank Manzo IV
Research ReportThe Cost of Construction Injuries and Fatalities in Illinois, Indiana, and Iowa
December 18, 2015 | By Frank Manzo IV
Economic CommentaryUnions Can Increase Efficiency: Ten Examples
September 1, 2015 | By Frank Manzo IV
Economic CommentaryCollective-Bargaining, Right-to-Work, and the Business Location of America’s Top Companies
September 1, 2015 | By Frank Manzo IV and Robert Bruno
Economic CommentaryThe State of the Unions 2015: A Profile of Unionization in Chicago, in Illinois, and in America
August 18, 2015 | By Frank Manzo IV, Robert Bruno, and Virginia Parks
Research ReportTestimony Before U.S. House of Representatives on Right-to-Work
June 3, 2015 | By Frank Manzo IV and Robert Bruno
TestimonyLocalized Disempowerment: The Movement to Implement Right-to-Work ‘Zones’
June 1, 2015 | By Frank Manzo IV
MemoThe Major Victims of Right-to-Work Laws: Construction Workers
May 13, 2015 | By Frank Manzo IV
Economic CommentaryThe Impact of Local “Right-to-Work” Zones: Predicting Outcomes for Workers, the Economy, and Tax Revenues in Illinois
April 6, 2015 | By Frank Manzo IV and Robert Bruno
Research ReportIllinois Income Report: How Are You Doing This Tax Season?
April 3, 2015 | By Frank Manzo IV
Economic CommentaryRoad and Bridge Construction Workers in the Midwest: Productive, High-Skilled, and Well-Paid
March 1, 2015 | By Frank Manzo IV and Robert Bruno
Policy BriefCompetency Needed: Addressing Iowa’s Skilled Construction Worker Shortage
February 15, 2016 | By Jill Manzo
Economic CommentaryThe Pay of Union Leaders: Debunking the “Big” Labor Myth
January 12, 2015 | By Frank Manzo IV and Robert Bruno
Economic CommentaryIllinois Teens and the Minimum Wage: The Impacts of Minimum Wage Hikes, 2004-2013
January 12, 2015 | By Frank Manzo IV and Robert Bruno
Economic CommentaryEfficiencies of Project Labor Agreements: Illinois Capital Development Board Projects, 2011-2013
May 18, 2015 | By Frank Manzo IV and Robert Bruno
Economic CommentaryMinimum Wage, Maximum Benefit: How a $10 Wage Floor Impacts All Workers and the Economy
March 17, 2014 | By Frank Manzo IV and Robert Bruno
Research ReportFree-Rider States: How Low-Wage Employment in “Right-to-Work” States Is Subsidized by the Economic Benefits of Collective Bargaining
September 2, 2014 | By Frank Manzo IV and Robert Bruno
Research ReportThe State of the Unions 2014: A Profile of Unionization in Chicago, in Illinois, and in America
August 22, 2014 | By Frank Manzo IV, Robert Bruno, and Virginia Parks
Research ReportUnion and Nonunion Households: General Social Survey, 2000-2012
April 22, 2014 | By Frank Manzo IV and Robert Bruno
Economic CommentaryWhich Labor Market Institutions Reduce Income Inequality?
January 29, 2014 | By Frank Manzo IV and Robert Bruno
Research ReportBroken Promises: Right-to-Work’s Early Track Record in Indiana
October 16, 2013 | By Frank Manzo IV
Economic CommentaryThe Economic Effects of Adopting a Right-to-Work Law: Implications for Illinois
October 7, 2013 | By Frank Manzo IV, Robert Bruno, Roland Zullo, and Alison Dickson Quesada
Research ReportThe State of Working Illinois 2013: Labor in the Land of Lincoln
October 1, 2013 | By Frank Manzo IV and Robert Bruno
Economic CommentaryA State of Lost Labor: Who Are the Unemployed in Illinois?
October 1, 2013 | By Frank Manzo IV
Economic Commentary