Work and Employment

The number of Americans represented by labor unions has decreased substantially since the 1950s, and a new survey finds that the decline is seen more negatively than positively by U.S. adults. The survey also finds that 55% of Americans have a favorable impression of unions, with about as many (53%) viewing business corporations favorably.

Large demographic shifts are reshaping America. See how your community compares with others in the country.

Explore the movement of international graduates in the 61 metro areas where at least 5,000 foreign graduates applied and were approved for OPT.

Sortable table that provides details on the 113 U.S. metro areas that had 2,000 or more foreign students approved for the U.S. government's Optional Practical Training (OPT) program from 2004 to 2016.

The federal Optional Practical Training program saw a 400% increase in foreign students graduating and working in STEM fields between 2008 and 2016.

Only about 5% of the chief executive officers of 1,500 companies we examined were women. Among the tier of executives just below the CEO in terms of pay and position in the corporate hierarchy, 11.5% were women.

As of 2017, 56 million Millennials were working or looking for work, more than the 53 million Generation Xers and 41 million Baby Boomers in the labor force.

Many Americans see new difficulties for men in workplace interactions and little effect on women's career opportunities amid the increased focus on sexual harassment and assault.

The employment of high-skilled foreign workers with H-1B visas centered in large East Coast and Texas metro areas in fiscal 2010-2016.

The H-1B visa program is the nation’s biggest temporary employment visa program. Explore the number of approvals by U.S. metropolitan area.