Economic Security

Since the beginning of the recession at the end of 2007, unemployment has increased rapidly, in Pennsylvania as it has elsewhere. While many families suffer as a result of reduced earnings and unemployment, women who head households face significantly higher risks of unemployment than male head households, and are much more likely than men to live in poverty. Single mothers nationally have higher rates of unemployment than other women and men.

Policy action is required to ensure that women and their families are receiving adequate help during the current crisis, and that measures are put in place to help them reach and maintain economic self-sufficiency in the longer run.

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The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA) contains a variety of provisions intended to boost economic activity and employment in the United States. Section 1512(e) of the law requires the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) to comment on the reports filed by certain recipients of funding under ARRA that detail how many jobs were created or retained through funded activities. This CBO report fulfills that requirement. It also provides CBO's estimates of ARRA's overall impact on employment and economic output in the first quarter of calendar year 2010.

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Recent changes to the unemployment insurance system as a result of the federal stimulus legislation have expanded an important safety net for victims of domestic and sexual violence who lose jobs as a result of the violence against them. The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA) included several provisions for modernizing state unemployment insurance systems, such as providing access to unemployment insurance benefits to various groups who were not previously covered by state laws, including victims of domestic violence.

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When it comes to ensuring that the economic stimulus and recovery process promotes equal opportunity for all communities, the law is excellent, but it is almost entirely up to us to uphold and enforce that law.

This fact sheet provides informtation and ideas for ensuring that federal investments in America's economic recovery create gender and more equal opportunity for all. Specifically, it describes the ways in which existing laws require equal opportunity in jobs, housing, healthcare, transportation, and other sectors, and offers specific ideas for holding public and private officials accountable.

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In this study, we analyze proposed spending and resource allocation in each of the major policy areas. Then, we carefully compare the proposals to the economic and social conditions of communities of color to better understand and predict how communities will be directly impacted by the Reinvestment Act.

The recession is having a devastating effect on individuals, families and communities across the country. Record unemployment rates and a sharp decline in wages and opportunities for unskilled workers, coupled with the foreclosure and housing crisis, have made it difficult economically. For those who were already straddling the line between poverty and economic stability, the deepening economic crisis has pushed them over the edge.  

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 As part of the new Stimulus Bill (ARRA), states and localities may be required to show economic impact of the stimulus funds. This brief has been developed to help state policymakers calculate the stimulus effects of increased child care spending on output and employment in the state economy.

There are three important aspects of the child care sector which need to be counted when assessing economic impact: 1) direct employment and output in the child care sector itself, 2) multiplier effects of the sector in the broader regional economy, and 3) the social infrastructure role child care plays in supporting the parent workforce. All of these are short term economic effects. This report will address each of these aspects in turn and show how to calculate these effects using an example with data from the State of Kansas. But first we must understand the structure of the child care sector.

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The ARRA provides significant funding increases for a number of human services, health, employment and other safety net programs. This additional support is intended to provide relief for lower-income families and others hardest hit by the recession. In addition, the funding will assit fiscally constrained state and local governments as they manage administrative and operational challenges stemming from the rise in demand for programs and services.

To read the full report, click here.

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The worsening recession is causing pain across the country, especially for the millions of women and families who already were struggling to make ends meet. The Obama Administration and House and Senate leaders have developed a strong plan for economic recovery to preserve and create jobs, help people through tough times, protect vital public services, and invest in our nation's future. The Conference Agreement on the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act includes a number of measures that are especially important for women and their families.

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The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act provided incentives to states to modernize their unemployment insurance (UI) programs and improve coverage for women. Many states responded -- but many have yet to act, despite urgent need.

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The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) is providing a $2 billion increase for the Child Care and Development Block Grant (CCDBG) for 2009 and 2010, including $255 million for improving the quality of child care, of which $93.6 million is targeted for activities to improve the quality of care for infants and toddlers. States are using their ARRA child care funds to maintain or expand access to child care assistance for families and to support initiatives to enhance the quality of care.

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