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
253,000 Jobs Added in April 2023, but Labor Force Participation Lags
The U.S. economy added 253,000 jobs in April, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, but the labor force participation rate remains troubling,…
Senators Should Oppose Biden Nominee Julie Su for Labor Secretary
Earlier this year, President Biden nominated Julie Su to serve as Secretary of Labor. Given Su’s track record as an aggressive enforcer and inept manager…
236,000 Jobs Added in March 2023
The U.S. economy added 236,000 jobs in March, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, suggesting good and bad future trends, say CEI…
Blog
Romney slams Labor nominee Su’s ‘so severely lacking’ record
- By: Sean Higgins
Julie Su, the White House’s pick to replace outgoing Labor Secretary Marty Walsh, had her first of two Senate hearings Thursday. Sen. Mitt Romney…
Freelancers Find Little Sympathy from Left In Fight over Worker ‘Misclassification’
- By: Sean Higgins
Kim Kavin is a freelance writer and an activist in the current political fight over the issue of worker classification. As co-founder of the activist…
In Chicago’s Mayoral Runoff, It’s a Question of Which Union Wins
- By: Sean Higgins
In Chicago’s upcoming mayoral race, the question is not whether organized labor will win, but rather which public sector union walks away with bragging rights.
Op-Eds/Articles
National Review
The Federal Minimum Wage Is Irrelevant to Most Workers
- By: Sean Higgins
It has been 13 years since the federal government last raised its minimum wage — currently $7.25 an hour — and that’s totally fine. It’s fine…
Issues and Insights
Customers, Not Regulators, Should Hold Southwest Accountable
- By: Sean Higgins
Southwest Airlines’ scheduling meltdown over the holiday weekend has prompted Capitol Hill lawmakers to propose hearings and federal regulators like Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg to promise a…
DJ Journal
NLRB Doesn’t Want Workers to Hear Both Sides on Unions
- By: Sean Higgins
Amazon isn’t the only corporation to face such charges. Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz was hit in October for comments regarding unions, indicating that the…
Studies
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 the rights…
Citations
Wall Street Journal
House Approves Imposing Railroad Labor Deal, Paid Sick Leave Measure
- By: Sean Higgins
The White House said Mr. Biden broadly supports providing more sick leave for rail workers, but he opposes measures that could slow down passage of…
The Center Square
Washington Supreme Court ruling could boost the cost of public works
- By: Sean Higgins
Washington state constitutional questions aside, Competitive Enterprise Institute research fellow Sean Higgins doesn’t believe the law is an improvement. “‘Prevailing wage laws’ are…
Reason
Biden Chips Away at Trump’s Deregulatory Legacy With New Gig Worker Rule
- By: Sean Higgins
Sean Higgins, a labor policy researcher at the free market Competitive Enterprise Institute, says that litigation chaos is unlikely given that the DOL…