Labor Market Focus

Experts at the Kansas City Fed have developed a collection of research and resources exploring the impact of labor markets on the economy.

Monitoring the labor market is a key focus of the Federal Reserve in its mission to foster a stable and growing economy. Keeping a pulse on the supply and demand of jobs, wages and the demographics of the labor force is critical to understanding the health of local and national economies

The Kansas City Fed monitors the labor market through the work of experts and economists. Below, you’ll find an archive of the Bank’s latest research and resources related to labor.

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193 result(s) found


Article Title	Author(s)	Date	Type
Cautious Careers: Job Mobility Under Incomplete Markets Without unemployment insurance, workers frequently stay put in safe but lower-productivity jobs and reject risky high-wage jobs. Labor and Demographics Quantitative Methods Research Working Paper Macroeconomics Data and Trends	Alex Clymo Piotr Denderski Yusuf Mercan Benjamin Schoefer Expandable Row	August 19, 2026 Expandable Row	Web Page Full Text Expandable Row
Is the AI Boom Volatility-Biased Technological Change? The AI boom is concentrated in the most volatile sectors of the U.S. economy and could keep volatility elevated going forward. Labor and Demographics AI Research Working Paper Macroeconomics	Juan David Munoz Henao Nicholas Sly Expandable Row	August 13, 2026 Expandable Row	Web Page Full Text Expandable Row
Latest Data for the KC Fed Labor Market Conditions Indicators Find the most recent monthly readings for the level of activity and momentum indicators. Labor Market Conditions Indicators Labor Market Data and Trends	Expandable Row	August 11, 2026 Expandable Row	Web Page Expandable Row
Is the U.S. Labor Force Nearing Its Peak? Despite an aging population, the U.S. labor force has grown substantially from pre-pandemic levels. Thus far, strong labor force participation rates and immigration flows have more than offset downward pressure from an increasing number of retirements. However, the U.S. labor force is likely nearing its peak: Increases in participation rates are unlikely to fully offset headwinds from slowing immigration and continued aging. Labor and Demographics Macroeconomics Economic Bulletin	Alison Felix Expandable Row	June 29, 2026 Expandable Row	Web Page Full Text Expandable Row
Nebraska’s Job Market Steady, but Uneven and Facing Uncertainty Through the pandemic and the years that followed, Nebraska’s labor market has remained steady, though some new challenges have emerged and others have intensified. Nebraska Economist Labor Market Regional Economy Nebraska	John McCoy Expandable Row	June 26, 2026 Expandable Row	Web Page Expandable Row
Oklahoma Economy May See Limited Gains from Higher Oil Prices: Latest Edition of the Oklahoma Economist Released The Oklahoma Economist is a quarterly publication that provides economic information and insights on the state's economy. Oklahoma Economist Labor Market Oklahoma	Expandable Row	May 19, 2026 Expandable Row	Web Page Expandable Row
Can Healthcare Labor Supply Keep Up with Aging-Driven Demand? Demand for healthcare is growing rapidly as the U.S. population ages, with employment in caregiving occupations expanding especially quickly. Women and immigrants have been the primary workers filling these jobs so far. With female labor force participation now at all-time highs and immigration flows expected to remain constrained, healthcare labor supply could struggle to meet demand from an aging population going forward. Labor and Demographics Economic Bulletin	Elior Cohen Expandable Row	May 1, 2026 Expandable Row	Web Page Full Text Expandable Row
Mass Layoffs Can Disproportionately Disrupt Small Communities The recent closure of a meatpacking plant in Lexington, Nebraska, raises questions about how mass layoffs affect nearby communities as well as the broader regional economy. After sizeable layoffs in similar communities, the local labor force shrank, employment declined, and out-migration increased. Overall, smaller communities have faced large, negative consequences from mass layoff events. Labor and Demographics Regional Economic Bulletin	John McCoy Expandable Row	February 18, 2026 Expandable Row	Web Page Full Text Expandable Row
A New U.S. Productivity Chapter? What Industry Data Say About AI Since late 2022, U.S. labor productivity has risen notably above its pre-pandemic trend. Industry data suggest the pickup is not yet broad-based: A small set of industries accounts for most gains. While higher AI adoption is associated with faster productivity growth across industries, it explains little of the shift in aggregate contributions, suggesting AI adoption is still spreading. Labor and Demographics AI Macroeconomics Data and Trends Economic Bulletin	Nida Çakır Melek Sydney Miller Expandable Row	February 11, 2026 Expandable Row	Web Page Full Text Expandable Row
Oklahoma Experiences Hiring Slowdown: Latest Edition of the Oklahoma Economist Released The Oklahoma Economist is a quarterly publication that provides economic information and insights on the state's economy. Oklahoma Economist Labor Market Oklahoma	Expandable Row	February 11, 2026 Expandable Row	Web Page Expandable Row

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Labor Market Focus

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Filter Archived Content

Cautious Careers: Job Mobility Under Incomplete Markets

Is the AI Boom Volatility-Biased Technological Change?

Latest Data for the KC Fed Labor Market Conditions Indicators

Is the U.S. Labor Force Nearing Its Peak?

Nebraska’s Job Market Steady, but Uneven and Facing Uncertainty

Oklahoma Economy May See Limited Gains from Higher Oil Prices: Latest Edition of the Oklahoma Economist Released

Can Healthcare Labor Supply Keep Up with Aging-Driven Demand?

Mass Layoffs Can Disproportionately Disrupt Small Communities

A New U.S. Productivity Chapter? What Industry Data Say About AI

Oklahoma Experiences Hiring Slowdown: Latest Edition of the Oklahoma Economist Released