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.
Prevailing Wages Can Build Good Jobs Into America’s Electric Vehicle Industry
By instituting prevailing wage policies, policymakers can ensure that the jobs they subsidize in one of America's newest industries offer fair wages and benefits.
4 Strategies to Create Good Jobs, Boost Equity With Federal Infrastructure Funds
Karla Walter outlines four strategies for states to ensure new federal infrastructure funds from the IIJA create good jobs and boost equity in local communities.
When contractors pay bad wages, the public shoulders the burden
Karla Walter highlights how new regulations governing the Davis-Bacon and Related Acts will ensure that workers on construction projects receiving federal funding are paid fairly.
New Opportunities for the Biden-Harris Administration To Create Good Jobs for LGBTQI+ Workers
For decades, the U.S. economy has left LGBTQI+ individuals and their families behind, but the Biden-Harris administration can use its existing authority to uplift LGBTQI+ workers.
Federal Contractors Are Violating Workers’ Rights and Harming the U.S. Government
New analysis from the Center for American Progress Action Fund finds that government contractors that break workplace laws frequently perform poorly and waste public resources.
Raising Wages and Narrowing Pay Gaps With Service Sector Prevailing Wage Laws
Prevailing wage laws for government service contracts can uplift wages and benefits; reduce racial pay gaps; and could have a range of positive effects on worker turnover, service quality, local budgets, and collective bargaining.
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.
COVID-19 Economic Recovery Investments Must Benefit American 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.
A How-To Guide for Strengthening State and Local Prevailing Wage Laws
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.
Federal Contracting Doesn’t Go Far Enough To Protect American Workers
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.
Electric Vehicles Should Be a Win for American Workers
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.
City apprenticeship program raises standards for workers and taxpayers
Jennifer Grøndahl and Karla Walter discuss how Phoenix's new apprenticeship program is solving the city's increasing demand for work related to government services.
This Center for American Progress video explains why forced arbitration agreements make it harder for workers and consumers to challenge predatory practices, wage theft, and discrimination.
Infrastructure Investment Must Create Good Jobs for All
Author Karla Walter describes how federal lawmakers can support America’s 21st-century competitiveness by ensuring that any federal infrastructure plan invests in good jobs.
