Reports the results of research to develop a new poverty measure that better reflects the  true economic circumstances of low-income Virginians.  The VPM claims to be an improvement over the official U.S. poverty measure by accounting for regional cost differences, family resources from in-kind government transfers, necessary medical expenses, and  other factors.  From the Weldon Cooper Center for Public Service at the University of Virginia

Finds that union workers receive larger wage increases, earn higher wages, and have greater access to employer-sponsored benefits, and that these trends persist despite declining union membership.   From the Bureau of Labor Statistics

Reports that the birth rate for unmarried women was 80% higher in 2007 than in 1980.  Provides statistics on the number and prevalence of births to unmarried women and such characteristics as household income and education attainment.  Provides national and state level data.  From the Census Bureau.

Data files on the demographic and program characteristics of recipients of the federal program that guarantees minimum income to the aged, blind, and disabled.   From the Social Security Administration

Argues that equal pay for women is a family issue in an era when women support family income.  Offers a brief primer on equal pay rights and what to do if you experience pay discrimination.  From the Women’s Bureau of the Labor Department

Reports that 10.4 million individuals were among the “working poor” in 2011, little changed from 2010.   These are people who spent at least 27 weeks in the labor force but whose incomes fell below the poverty level.  Also provides statistics on the demographic characteristics, educational attainment, and occupation of the working poor.  From the Bureau of Labor Statistics

Describes what the TANF block grant program is, what it offers, what restrictions are connected to it such as the work requirements and time limits, and state accountability requirements.  From the Congressional Research Service, posted by the Federation of American Scientists

Interactive tool that allows user to extract data from the Quarterly Workforce Indicators  including measures of employment, turnover, hiring, job creation, job desctruction, and average monthly earnings for states, counties, MSAs, and workforce investment areas.  From the Census Bureau

Reports that the median household debt in the U.S. has increased from $50,971 to 2000 to $70,000 in 2011.  Offers further information on household debt by age, and composition of the debt.  From the Bureau of the Census

Notes progress made in developing nations in the areas of education, health, and income.  Also describes specific drivers of development transformation in these countries.  From the UN Development Programme

Press release on characteristics of workers with disabilities.  Also describes types of jobs most frequently held by those with disabilities.  Provides links to detail data.  From the Census Bureau

Calculates the value of the real minimum wage over time as compared to its nominal value.  When inflation and buying power is taken into consideration, the peak value of the minimum wage was reached in 1968 when its real value was $10.57 as compared to the current minimum wage’s ($7.25) real value which is $7.80 or 26% lower than the 1968 peak.  From the Congressional Research Service, posted by the Federation of American Scientists

This report presents estimates of the percentages of men in each of the detailed nursing occupations.  Covers, among others, educational attainment, work hours, and median earnings.  From the Census Bureau

Presents information on the prevalence of disability as a characteristic among adults who received income-based government assistance.  Presents data for the nation and states to show geographic variations.  From the Census Bureau

Discusses the president’s proposal to raise the minimum wage to $9 per hour by 2015 and what that would mean for individual states.  Includes table with current minimum wage for each state.  From the Council of State Governments

Covers student performance on tests in New York, Florida, Texas, Illinois, and California.  These five states serve more than half of the nation’s English language learners and some of the largest concentrations of children from lower-income families.  From the National Center for Education Statistics

In this report poverty rates are summarized by race and Hispanic origin for the U.S., each state, and the District of Columbia.  Poverty rates are also presented for selected detailed race and origin groups in cities and towns with the largest populations of these groups.  From the Census Bureau

Provides estimates on the number of high-income households in each area of the country.  Finds that high-income counties are found most frequently along the coasts, especially the Pacific, Middle Atlantic, and New England coasts.  From the Census Bureau

Describes the high percentage of children living in fatherless households, the tendency for such households to be below the poverty level, and policy options that could make fathers play a more important role in the family.  From the Congressional Research Service, posted by the Federation of American Scientists

This report presents historical and current labor force participation and earnings data for women and men from the Current Population Survey and focuses especially on the rising participation rate, earnings, and educational attainment of women since the 1970s.  From the Bureau of Labor Statistics

Examines the rise in the rate of federal spending, now 1 out of every 6 dollars spent, on means-tested programs for the low income such as Medicaid, Supplemental Security Income, Temporary Assistance for Needy Families, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, tax credits, and others over the past 40 years.  From the Congressional Budget Office

http://www.ssa.gov/policy/docs/statcomps/supplement/2012/supplement12.pdf

Major annual source of information on the U.S. social insurance and welfare programs.  Offers statistics on social security, supplemental security income, Medicare, Medicaid, and other social services programs.  From the Social Security Administration

Compares Virginia with other states on taxes, budgets, income, employment, spending and other indicators.  From the Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission

Answers questions relating to funding, cash benefits, caseloads, work requirements, and other matters relating to the main federal welfare law.  From the Congressional Research Service, posted by the Federation of American Scientists

This report provides information about proposals that would restrict payment of unemployment benefits to individuals with high income.   From the Congressional Research Service, posted by the Federation of American Scientists

Reports that business was the most popular major and these graduates were among those mostly likely to be employed full-time; education was the second most popular major but these graduates were the least likely to be employed full-time.  From the Census Bureau

Explores the relationship between how far one goes in school and how much money one might make over the course of a career.  From the Census Bureau

Warns that the world economy is on the brink of another major downturn.  Sections on the global economic outlook, international trade, and international finance for development.  From the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development

Compares food security situation among households with working and non-working adults with disabilities.  From the Economic Research Service of the U.S. Department of Agriculture

Reviews recent studies evaluating management issues and compensation levels at the Virginia port.  Concludes that the port’s performance and outlook appear more positive than suggested by recent reports and that executives have higher compensation than other U.S. port directors.  From the Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission