WASHINGTON—The AFL-CIO, the nation’s largest labor federation representing nearly 13 million workers, announced today that Dr. Darrick Hamilton will serve as its next chief economist.
“I am thrilled to welcome Dr. Hamilton to the AFL-CIO as our new chief economist,” said AFL-CIO President Liz Shuler. “His research on the racial wealth gap and economic justice, visionary scholarship on ideas like Baby Bonds and bold thinking honed in campaign and legislative settings will be an invaluable asset to our work. I look forward to Dr. Hamilton’s partnership as we continue the fight to build an economy that works for working people.”
As chief economist of the AFL-CIO, Dr. Hamilton will provide expert economic analysis, serve as an advisor and work with staff to develop a progressive agenda for the economic security of all working people and their families, including campaigns and regarding legislative and regulatory policy issues with unions across the federation. He succeeds the late preeminent economist Dr. William Spriggs in the role.
“I am honored to step into the role of chief economist at the AFL-CIO,” Dr. Hamilton said. “I follow the giant footsteps of Dr. Spriggs, whose scholarship was seminal to our understanding of the immoral blight of discrimination. His work was focused on empowering workers and promoting fair and inclusive labor markets, values that are the foundation of my work as an economist. I join this rank committed to workers, productivity and a more just and equitable distribution of labor and economic power. This appointment, at this moment, presents a remarkable opportunity and solemn responsibility to build upon Dr. Sprigg’s legacy and advance the union movement—a task for which I am ready.”
Dr. Hamilton is a university professor, the Henry Cohen Professor of Economics and Urban Policy, and will continue to serve as the founding director of the Institute on Race, Power and Political Economyat The New School. He is one of the country’s leading scholars and economists and has worked to craft economic policy that served as inspiration for legislation at the federal, state and local levels. Dr. Hamilton brings experience advising members of Congress and presidential candidates, including the Biden-Sanders Unity Task Force, and testified before the Joint Economic Committee on public policy to respond to the economic crises created by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Contact: Mia Jacobs, 202-637-5018
