EARN Notice
A monthly newsletter from the Economic Analysis and Research Network (EARN)


** EARN Notice October 2025
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Greetings EARNers,

EARNCon ([link removed]) is just around the corner! I can’t wait to see many of you in New Orleans next month. Our team is hard at work creating a conference that’s engaging, energizing, and filled with opportunities to strengthen our state policy community. If you’re still on the fence about attending, there’s still time to register ([link removed]) !

As always, we’re not skimping on the programming! I’ve been developing several exciting sessions, including our new “State of Working X Data Bootcamp ([link removed]) ” (November 12, 1:00–4:00 p.m.), a hands-on workshop where researchers from across the network can connect and learn strategies to make these annual reports even more impactful.

I’m also thrilled about “Building Living Wages One Block at a Time: Industry-Level Strategies for Increasing Wage Floors ([link removed]) ” (November 13, 2:15–3:30 p.m.). This session will highlight ambitious living wage campaigns from around the country and spotlight key wins in states that must contend with preemption.

And finally, don’t miss “Community Benefits Agreements and Community-Labor Coalitions: How to Create Virtuous Cycles for Workers and Families Through Local Economic Development ([link removed]) ” (November 14, 10:00–11:15 a.m.). Labor-community partnerships are essential to reversing the extractive economic development models that dominate many of our states. Our network has built deep expertise in CBAs and other community-benefit approaches, and I’m excited to share some of that work with you.

In other news, the ongoing government shutdown has paused the release of state employment data this week. In the meantime, EPI researchers Elise Gould and Joe Fast are tracking state unemployment insurance ([link removed]) trends. The EARN team distributed the underlying state data to those on the Jobwatch listserv earlier this week – sign up ([link removed]) to get future updates. We’ve also put together an FAQ ([link removed]) to help answer common questions about the state employment and unemployment data. Let us know if there are other ways you’re trying to track your state economy while the BLS is offline.

Best,

Sebastian Martinez Hickey
State Economic Analyst


** New Publications
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[link removed]
Immigrants Power Oklahoma’s Economy. State Question 832 Can Ensure they Earn Fair Wages. ([link removed]) (September 24)

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Tax Breaks for Tips and Overtime are Crumbs for the Working Class ([link removed]) (October 2)

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High Heat, Higher Responsibility (2025): The Sunshine State Must Enact Policies to Protect Working Floridians ([link removed]) (September 24)

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A Real Pro-Family Tax Policy Invests in Child Care and Elder Care ([link removed]) (October 14)


** Upcoming EARN Events
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EARNCon 2025: There is still time to register!
Join us for EARNCon 2025 ([link removed]) in New Orleans, LA from November 12–14, 2025. This year’s conference will center around the theme “Community, Solidarity, Resistance: Building multi-racial worker power in the states." Additional information, including the conference agenda, can be found on our conference website ([link removed]) .
Register here ([link removed])


** ICYMI: Recent Publications from EPI
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Holding the Line: State solutions to the U.S. worker rights crisis: This series of briefs ([link removed]) provides short, accessible guidance for state policymakers on how to address current threats to U.S. worker rights and protections. It includes recommendations for maintaining core protections when federal standards are weakened, and how to address long-standing gaps in labor protections. Three new briefs released this month focus on these key labor standards:
* Unemployment insurance ([link removed])
* Workplace nondiscrimination protections ([link removed])
* Workplace health and safety standards ([link removed])

Access the full series including additional briefs covering child labor, overtime pay, wage payment, and minimum wage here ([link removed]) .


** What We're Reading
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* The American Job Quality Study: 2025 State of the U.S. Labor Force ([link removed]) . Published by Jobs for the Future in collaboration with Gallup, the Families & Workers Fund, and W.E. Upjohn Institute for Employment Research.

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