Policy
What Work Does Generative AI Do?
Essays SEP 8, 2026
By: Alexander Bick, Adam Blandin, David Deming, Tyler Schumacher
AI, Tech & Energy
Labor, Wages & Worker Power
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Blog
JUN 4, 2021
Equitable Growth’s Jobs Day Graphs: May 2021 Report Edition
By: Kate Bahn and Carmen Sanchez Cumming
Abstract
On June 4, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics released new data on the U.S. labor market during the month of May. Below are five graphs compiled by Equitable Growth staff highlighting important trends in the data.
The prime-age employment-to-population ratio increased slightly in May from 76.9 percent to 77.1 percent as the labor market added 559,000 jobs.
Share of 25- to -54-year-olds who are employed, 2007, 2021. Recessions are shaded.
Unemployment rates seem to have fallen for all racial and ethnic groups, but remain significantly higher for Black workers at 9.1 percent and Latinx workers at 7.3 percent.
U.S. unemployment rate by race, 2000-2021. Recessions are shaded.
Women’s employment rate increased 0.3 percentage points to 53.1 percent while men’s employment rate increased 0.1 percentage point to 63.4 percent.
Share of the U.S. population that is employed, by gender, 2007-2021. Recessions are shaded.
An increasing proportion of unemployed workers reentered the labor force, while the unemployment rate declined to 5.8 percent in May.
Percent of all unemployed workers in the United States by reason for unemployment, 2019-2021
Fewer unemployed workers have been out of employment for more than 15 weeks, led by a decline in unemployed workers without jobs for 27 weeks or more.
Percent of all unemployed U.S. workers by length of time unemployed, 2019-2021
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Academic
What Work Does Generative AI Do?
Working Papers SEP 8, 2026
By: Alexander Bick, Adam Blandin, David Deming, Tyler Schumacher
AI, Tech & Energy
Labor, Wages & Worker Power
Policy
What happens to U.S. workers without access to Unemployment Insurance amid economic downturns or disruptions related to AI?
Essays SEP 2, 2026
By: Megan Rivera
AI, Tech & Energy
Economic Equity & Opportunity
Labor, Wages & Worker Power
Macroeconomics & Economic Measurement
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