EPI’s Shierholz headed to Labor Department

Heidi Shierholz, a labor economist at the Economic Policy Institute, is headed to a top job in the Obama administration. 

Shierholz, who has focused on labor market and employment trends during her seven years at EPI, was named the Labor Department’s chief economist on Monday.

{mosads}”EPI’s loss is America’s gain,” said EPI President Lawrence Mishel. “Heidi clearly understands that the American worker should be front and center of economic policymaking, and she will bring that knowledge and passion with her to the Labor Department.”

At EPI, Shierholz’s research has focused on how economic policy affects middle- and low-income families, especially unemployment, labor force participation, income and wealth inequality, minimum wage and unemployment insurance.

“Heidi Shierholz is a world-class economist with a rare ability to translate her important work into English, for both policymakers and the broader public,” said Josh Bivens, EPI’s research and policy director. “Her skill set has been an enormous asset to EPI and will be an asset to the administration.”

Shierholz received her Ph.D. in Economics from the University of Michigan and was an assistant professor at the University of Toronto before joining EPI.

She also is a co-author of The State of Working America and an annual report on labor market conditions for recent high school and college graduates.