In today’s News and Commentary, U.S. labor productivity is climbing at its fastest pace in decades; a federal judge grants a preliminary injunction to anti-abortion groups challenging Michigan’s civil rights law; and Jackson, Mississippi’s bus workers walk off the job.
American workers are more productive than ever. Labor productivity has been growing at its fastest pace in at least two decades, driven by a combination of tight labor markets, the post-pandemic digitization of work, remote hiring from broader talent pools, and industry consolidation. Former Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell noted in March that he had never expected to see so many consecutive years of strong productivity growth, adding that the economy had not yet begun to feel the effects of generative AI. But the gains have a darker side. Tech employment has shrunk for eighteen consecutive months, and the finance sector has lost more than 100,000 jobs since May 2025. A Federal Reserve survey this spring found that many firms had delayed or foregone hiring because AI-driven efficiencies enabled them to do more with fewer workers. Whether these efficiency gains will ultimately translate into higher wages remains an open question. Over the past decade, productivity growth has outpaced real compensation growth by roughly two to one, reducing labor’s share of national income.
A federal judge in Michigan granted a preliminary injunction Friday to two anti-abortion organizations challenging the state’s...
Florida Chief Financial Officer Blaise Ingoglia announced the arrest of Torey Jermaine Keith, who is accused of submitting more than $159,000 in fraudulent health insurance claims. The Florida Dep...