New research by Michele Evermore of the National Academy of Social Insurance and Will Raderman of the Niskanen Center explores how states are using enhanced wage records (EWRs) to better understand today’s labor market.
Alaska, Connecticut, Louisiana, North Carolina, and Wyoming are among a growing number of states collecting enhanced wage records—expanded unemployment insurance data that can provide deeper insight into labor market dynamics, including changes driven by AI and other economic shifts.
Drawing on conversations with state agency officials, this policy brief examines the benefits of improved data collection, how states are using EWRs today, and where there may be untapped opportunities to strengthen labor market analysis and unemployment insurance program integrity.