FEATURED POST
December 11, 2025
The disappearing annual bonus
Bonuses have become less common since 2021.
Read more
Subscribe to Data Lab
Stay up-to-date on the latest reports and trends.
Stay up to date with Data Lab
Please complete all fields.
Filter by:
August 2, 2021
MainStreet Macro: When a Summer Off is a Bad Thing
The labor market is still recovering from last year’s bruising round of pandemic-related business closures, during which, for the first time in history, women bore more than their share of job losses. For some, that premature exit from the workforce was “voluntary”, a decision made to focus on increased family responsibilities during the pandemic. For others, the exit was decidedly involuntary, with women more concentrated in service-related jobs that were hit hardest by the pandemic.
As the labor market continues its uneven path to pre-pandemic levels of employment here are three trends to watch for women this summer.
Read more
July 26, 2021
MainStreet Macro: Pivotal Moments
Main Street businesses, the real-world heroes in the economy’s battle against the viral menace of COVID-19, are at just such a pivotal moment. This week, official GDP data is likely to confirm what we already know — the U.S. grew like gangbusters in the second quarter of the year. Yet as good as the economic numbers look from a distance, up close there’s growing unease that Main Street isn’t out of the woods yet when it comes to the pandemic. Here are three pivotal moments Main Street is facing.
Read more
July 19, 2021
MainStreet Macro: How much is too much inflation?
As inflation climbs -- businesses and consumers wonder what this trend means for economic recovery. In this episode of MainStreet Macro, ADP Chief Economist Nela Richardson breaks down the three key relationships influencing inflation and overall economic health.
Read more
July 12, 2021
MainStreet Macro: Special Edition- The glass ceiling just got harder to crack
Women’s job losses during the pandemic topped those of men for the first time in U.S. economic history. The “shecession” left millions of women pulled between work and new family responsibilities. As employees, women also were concentrated in industries hit hardest by social-distancing restrictions, such as retail and leisure and hospitality. At the ADP Research Institute, we wanted to know what happened to the women who stayed in the workforce during the pandemic year. Here are a few things we learned about women in the workplace during the pandemic.
Read more
June 28, 2021
MainStreet Macro: Introducing ADP’s Quarterly Small Business @ Work Survey
Main Street firms were forced to reduce headcount quickly during the pandemic. But thanks to a potent formula of government stimulus and sheer grit, small firms led the recovery from the worst of the downturn. A new quarterly survey from the ADP Research Institute might help. The Small Business @ Work Survey, which I’m pleased to introduce here, will take the ongoing pulse of their economy. Here are key findings from our inaugural report.
Read more
June 21, 2021
MainStreet Macro: The Fed’s Role: Thermometer or thermostat?
It came as a surprise to no one, anywhere, that the Fed left interest rates at near zero when the Board of Governors met for its regularly scheduled policy meeting last week.
The twist in the announcement, though, was a hint that the Fed might raise short-term rates and lower monthly bond purchases sooner than it had suggested. Today we discuss what hats the Fed needs to wear to help Wall Street, Main Street and the overall economy.
Read more
June 14, 2021
MainStreet Macro: Should MainStreet Care about Student Debt?
This month, students around the country will graduate from college, vocational schools, and high school after a year of learning like no other. Well it’s almost like no other. One constant of higher education before and after the pandemic has been its high price tag. U.S. students owe a whopping $1.7 trillion in combined debt. Outstanding student loans have skyrocketed 90% over the past decade. Should Main Street care about student debt?
Read more
June 7, 2021
MainStreet Macro: Where are the workers?
by Nela Richardson, Ph.D.
Last week, the May jobs report captured the attention of economists, policymakers, Wall Street and Main Street. We know where the jobs are. This week, we answer the other question that has plagued us this year – where are all the workers?
Read more
