Sean Higgins is a research fellow at the Competitive Enterprise Institute specializing in labor and employment issues. As journalist, he covered the intersection of politics and economics for two decades, having been senior writer for the Washington Examiner, Washington correspondent for Investor’s Business Daily and a contributor to publications like Reason and National Review Online.”
Authored by Sean Higgins
News
Modest job numbers signal slow economic growth: CEI analysis
Just 29,000 jobs were added to the US economy in September 2026, according to the latest monthly government report, while the unemployment rate…
US economy adds 162,000 jobs in August, higher than expected: CEI analysis
The Bureau of Labor Statistics’ report for August shows the economy added 162,000 jobs, higher than economists predicted. While the news is a…
Jobs numbers drop in July, May and June’s numbers revised downward: CEI analysis
The new jobs report brings bad news to the labor market, with a net loss of 23,000 jobs for July and a downward…
Blog
How inflation pushes people toward collectivism
- By: Sean Higgins
The Wall Street Journal reported earlier this month that 50,000 drivers recently (exactly when is unclear) officially signed cards to join the…
California forces rideshare drivers into a union
- By: Sean Higgins
A reported 50,000 rideshare drivers for Lyft and Uber in California have recently signed cards to join the existing California Gig Workers…
The ‘no hire, no fire’ era is starting to crack
- By: Sean Higgins
Families gathering around the barbeque next Monday to celebrate the national day off from work will probably be grilling more hot dogs and cheap…
Op-Eds/Articles
DC Journal
This Labor Day, Respect the Right to Join (or Not) a Union
- By: Sean Higgins
Labor Day was created to celebrate all the Americans who work to support their families. The least the government can do in return is…
The Center Square
Don’t panic – Labor Day will still be around in the future
- By: Sean Higgins
This Labor Day, instead of celebrating work, many Americans may be worrying about how much longer they will even have jobs in the age…
DC Journal
Trump, Vance help rail unions put the brakes on automation
- By: Sean Higgins
The White House successfully pressured House Republicans into adding the Railway Safety Act — legislation once co-sponsored by Vice President JD Vance as a senator — to the…
Studies
Don’t Panic: A Skeptic’s Guide to the AI Jobs Doomsday
- By: Sean Higgins
As technology advances it has periodically bred the fear that progress will destroy jobs and livelihoods. History teaches that these fears are usually misplaced.
The Forgotten History of the Wagner Act
- By: Sean Higgins
Introduction President Joe Biden on April 26, 2021, announced the creation of a special Task Force on Worker Organizing and Empowerment. The purpose of…
The Protect the Right to Organize Act Empowers Unions at Workers’ Expense
- By: Sean Higgins
View the Full Document as PDF The Protecting the Right to Organize (PRO) Act is touted by its supporters as advancing…
Citations
Washington Times
Generation Z embraces AI cost-cutting to lead surge in new business starts
- By: Sean Higgins
CEI’s Sean Higgins was cited by the Washington Times relating to Gen Z’s embrace of AI. Experts disagree on how long the…
The Free Press
Trump’s Pro-Union Agenda Is Over. Its Former Leader Is Still in the Game.
- By: Sean Higgins
CEI’s Sean Higgins was quoted in The Free Press relating to Trump’s Agenda. After all, rank-and-file Teamsters warmed to…
Washington Times
GAO report finds surge in gig workers receiving federal poverty assistance
- By: Sean Higgins
CEI’s Sean Higgins was cited by the Washington Times regarding gig workers relying on federal assistance programs. A May 2023 working paper published…
Regulatory Comments
Competitive Enterprise Institute Letter Supporting OPM’s Proposed Rule on Improving Performance, Accountability, and Responsiveness in the Civil Service
- By: Sean Higgins
Competitive Enterprise Institute Letter in Support of OPM proposed rule “Improving Performance, Accountability and Responsiveness in the Civil Service” On behalf of the…
Competitive Enterprise Institute Letter in Support of DOT Request to Reduce Regulatory Burden
- By: Sean Higgins
On behalf of the Competitive Enterprise Institute (CEI), I respectfully submit the following comments in response to the Department of Transportation’s (DOT) request for…
CEI Letter Opposing the Department of Labor’s Proposed Changes to the Davis-Bacon Act
- By: Sean Higgins
Via Regulations.Gov Hon. Marty Walsh Secretary of Labor United States Department of Labor 200 Constitution Ave NW Washington, DC…
Podcast Episodes
Questioning the AI Jobs Doomsday with Sean Higgins
This week we cover making home appliances great again, fighting price controls on healthcare, research on AI-fueled entrepreneurship, and a big new event on administrative...
Going into Labor with Sean Higgins
- By: Sean Higgins
This week we talk about the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau’s legal fate, rising economic might in India, terrible federal policy on sugar, and how the...