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Karla Walter is the senior director of the American Worker Project at the Center for American Progress Action Fund. Walter focuses primarily on improving the economic security of American workers by increasing workers’ wages and benefits, promoting workplace protections, and advancing workers’ rights at work. Prior to joining American Progress, Walter was a research analyst at Good Jobs First, providing support to officials, policy research organizations, and grassroots advocacy groups striving to make state and local economic development subsidies more accountable and effective. She has co-authored several studies that promote economic development policies that meet workers’ needs and advocate for greater corporate accountability. Previously, she worked as a legislative aide for Wisconsin State Rep. Jennifer Shilling. Her work has been referenced in The New York Times and other newspapers. Walter earned a master’s degree in urban planning and policy from the University of Illinois at Chicago.
To view the work of the American Worker Project, click here.
Karla Walter explores how higher home care wages reduce economic hardship and improve recruitment and retention.
President Biden is using his executive authority to build power and improve the lives of contract workers; he can do even more to raise standards for service workers.
Author Karla Walter explains how policymakers can ensure economic recovery spending benefits for working Americans from all walks of life by adopting model job quality language.
Authors Malkie Wall, David Madland, and Karla Walter answer frequently asked questions about prevailing wages.
Authors Karla Walter, Malkie Wall, and Alex Rowell provide a road map for state and local policymakers working to create or strengthen prevailing wage laws, explain core features of prevailing wage legislation, and lift up existing best practices from around the county.
By fixing problems in the federal contracting system, the Biden administration can raise standards for millions of workers, provide law-abiding companies the opportunity to compete on an even playing field, and ensure that taxpayers receive good value.
The authors argue that federal policymakers must invest in domestic electric vehicle production and deployment now in order to support high-quality American jobs, cut greenhouse gas emissions over the long term, and ensure national competitiveness in a key area of growth.
Karla Walter outlines key steps that must be taken to ensure that pandemic-response infrastructure investments create high-quality jobs for all working Americans.
Karla Walter writes about how to make worker protections real during the coronavirus pandemic.
Authors Allison Preiss and Karla Walter explain how cities and states can protect gig-economy workers during the COVID-19 pandemic and beyond.
Livia Lam and Karla Walter detail quality workforce partnerships.
Karla Walter policies at the state and local levels to help build workers' wealth in the United States.
