Employment and Labor Markets

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Higher employment raises households’ incomes, raises federal revenues, and reduces federal spending for certain programs. CBO analyzes the causes and consequences of unemployment and other developments in labor markets. The agency also examines the effects on labor markets of federal policies in current law and proposed policy changes.

  • The Effects of a Minimum-Wage Increase on Employment and Family Income
    Report February 18, 2014

    Raising the minimum wage would increase family income for many low-wage workers, moving some of them out of poverty. But some jobs for low-wage workers would probably be eliminated and the income of those workers would fall substantially.

  • The Slow Recovery of the Labor Market
    Report February 4, 2014

    Since the recession ended in June 2009, employment has risen sluggishly and the unemployment rate has fallen only partway back to its prerecession level. This CBO report discusses the reasons for the slow recovery of the labor market.

  • Unemployment Insurance in the Wake of the Recent Recession
    Report November 28, 2012

    Between 2007 and 2010, unemployment benefits expanded nearly five-fold owing to high unemployment due to the weak economy, and decisions by policymakers to increase the number of weeks for which unemployed workers could receive benefits.

  • Small Firms, Employment, and Federal Policy
    Report March 12, 2012

    Small firms both create and eliminate jobs at higher rates than large firms do. Although small firms account for a disproportionate share of net job growth, that greater growth is driven primarily by new small firms.

  • Understanding and Responding to Persistently High Unemployment
    Report February 16, 2012

    The rate of unemployment in the United States has exceeded 8 percent since February 2009, and CBO projects that it will remain above 8 percent until 2014.