Good Jobs Order signifies robust labor market, expert claims
TL/DR –
President Joe Biden’s Good Jobs Executive Order aims to promote equity in the workforce and create good job opportunities, with significant implications for Black Americans. Brendan Danaher, deputy director for labor at the National Economic Council at the White House, highlighted positive changes such as the return of Black Americans to pre-pandemic participation rates in the workforce, a 2% increase in earnings once inflation is considered, and a drop in unemployment rate to its lowest level in nearly 50 years. Danaher also mentioned the administration’s legislative milestones, including the Infrastructure Bill, Inflation Reduction Act, and the CHIPS and Science Act which have led to over $395 billion in investments and 115,000 new jobs in semiconductors and electronics.
Biden\’s Good Jobs Executive Order Promises Bright Future for Black Americans
The Good Jobs Executive Order, recently signed by President Joe Biden, has the potential to create promising job opportunities, especially for Black Americans. Brendan Danaher, Deputy Director for Labor at the National Economic Council at the White House, shares insights into the order and its impact on Black Americans post the August jobs report.
Danaher notes positive trends in non-farm payroll, with recent increases of 142,000 contributing to a three-month average of 116,000 employment gains. The employment rate also dropped slightly to 4.2% from 4.3% in July 2024.
Black Americans Return to Pre-Pandemic Labor Levels
Danaher emphasizes that the participation rate of Black Americans in the labor force is back at pre-pandemic levels, at 62.7. Post-inflation, earnings for Black workers have risen by 2%. Furthermore, the share of Black Americans in employment is nearing the highest it has been in two decades.
Black Unemployment Rate Hits Historical Low
The Black unemployment rate has fallen to its lowest in nearly fifty years, down to 6.1% in 2023 from 9.3% since Biden-Harris administration came into power. This signifies employment of an additional 2.4 million Black Americans.
Employment gains have been observed in education, health services, leisure, hospitality, and construction sectors.
Biden\’s Infrastructure Bill and New Jobs in Electronics
Legislative milestones like the Infrastructure Bill, Inflation Reduction Act, and the CHIPS and Science Act under the Biden administration have resulted in substantial investments of over $395 billion and 115,000 new job creations in semiconductors and electronics.
Good Jobs Executive Order: A Step Toward Equity
The Good Jobs Executive Order is designed to set standards for good jobs and promote workforce equity. It encourages recruitment and retention of a diverse workforce, developing new job pathways, and bolstering pre-apprenticeship programs. Federal agencies associated with grant programs include the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Commerce, Homeland Security, Education, Environmental Protection Agency, Housing and Urban Development, Energy, and Transportation.
The order also supports the growth of registered apprenticeship programs and urges the federal government to lead by example in skills-based hiring and promoting equitable career pathways.
According to Danaher, the order is indicative of a robust labor market, with 142,000 jobs added in August, maintaining low unemployment rates and real wage increases.
Before his current role as a top labor adviser at the White House, Danaher advised the Biden transition on transportation issues. He also served as a labor policy adviser at the Department of Transportation and as an executive director for the Transport Workers Union.
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