The trends described in this special report paint a picture of an economy that was in trouble long before the current recession took hold — at least from the standpoint of the American worker.

Whether their distress is measured by stagnant wages or contingent jobs or violations of core labor laws, today’s workers face a daunting labor market likely to provide them with fewer opportunities than their parents had.

I recommend…

Government Paves the Way | Paul Sonn and Annette Bernhardt
A decent work agenda for the Obama administration.

Decent Work | Robert Kuttner
How government can get back on the side of promoting good jobs.

Broken Laws, Unprotected Workers | Annette Bernhardt, Ruth Milkman and Nik Theodore
Rebuilding our economy on the back of illegal working conditions is morally untenable — and it is bad economics.

Or view the whole report.