Economic Opportunity
Policy Choices Can Help Out-of-Work Families During This Recession and Set Virginia on a Better Course
As Virginia policymakers consider how to respond to high levels of job losses and rebuild the...
Initial Virginia Unemployment Data Indicates Greater Job Losses Among Virginians of Color; The Same Thing Happened During the Last Recession
In the last two months, Virginia families and businesses across the commonwealth have taken the extraordinary step to stay home...
Work-Sharing: A Powerful Tool to Save Jobs in Virginia
Confronting an economic downturn in the wake of COVID-19, Gov. Northam recently proposed an innovative program...
COVID-19 & Unemployment Insurance: Recent Reforms & Next Steps for Virginia
During recessions, Virginia’s unemployment insurance (UI) system serves as the first line of defense by helping to stabilize the economy...
People are the Economy
The purpose of economic activity is to improve people’s lives, making us healthier, happier, and more fulfilled. And when people...
New Minimum Wage Legislation Will Strengthen Virginia’s Families & Economy
Nearly 800,000 people will benefit, including essential workers during COVID-19. In the 2020 session, the General Assembly passed historic legislation...
Resources for Virginia Workers, Families, and Businesses Impacted by COVID-19
Steps have been taken on the state and federal level in response to the COVID-19 pandemic to halt the spread...
Understanding Federal Action on COVID-19 and Potential Next Steps
This past week Congress passed and the President signed the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA), which takes some first...
Virginia Charts A Path To A $15 Minimum Wage
During the 2020 session, the General Assembly adopted new legislation to increase Virginia’s minimum wage. Historically, Virginia has followed the federal minimum wage, which has been set at $7.25 since July 2009. This bill, which now awaits Gov. Northam’s signature, would gradually increase Virginia’s minimum wage to $12 by January 2023 and then outlines a path to $15 by 2026, contingent on the approval of the General Assembly.