Latest news with #TRU
Time of India
2 days ago
- Business
- Time of India
Why are 24% of Americans still 'Functionally Unemployed' in a growing economy?
Caption: (Gemini) Amid headlines touting low unemployment and strong hiring numbers, a deeper, more troubling narrative is taking root across the American workforce. According to a report by the Ludwig Institute for Shared Economic Prosperity (LISEP), 24.3% of working-age Americans are "functionally unemployed"—a term that recasts the traditional definition of joblessness to reflect a far grimmer reality (LISEP, 2024). Unlike the official unemployment rate reported by the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS)—which stood at 4.2% as of May 2025—LISEP's metric includes individuals who are technically employed but still unable to secure full-time, living-wage work. That's more than 66 million Americans trapped in jobs that do not cover even the most basic cost of living. Redefining unemployment: What the numbers miss The federal government considers anyone who worked at least one hour in the past two weeks to be employed (BLS, May 2025 Report). But this narrow framework fails to capture underemployment and wage insufficiency. LISEP's True Rate of Unemployment (TRU) seeks to fill that blind spot by counting individuals as fully employed only if they work full-time (at least 35 hours per week) and earn at least $20,000 annually, adjusted for inflation, or are voluntarily in part-time roles and content with their hours. More than just a statistical tweak, this reframing exposes the widening chasm between having a job and making a living. A crisis in plain sight: The toll of functional unemployment The 24.3% 'functionally unemployed' rate represents workers in three key categories: The unemployed and actively seeking work Part-time workers who want full-time employment Full-time workers earning below $25,000 per year before taxes, below the federal poverty threshold for many households according to LISEP, 2024. Not just a number: Disparities across race and gender The crisis does not strike equally. Women experience a functional unemployment rate of 29.9%, compared to 19.3% for men, according to LISEP's latest analysis. The racial breakdown is equally stark: Black and Hispanic Americans consistently face higher rates of functional unemployment than their white counterparts. These disparities point to deep-seated structural inequalities, from occupational segregation and pay gaps to reduced access to education, transportation, and caregiving support. The traditional employment metrics gloss over this hidden labor divide. TRU, in contrast, brings these injustices to the surface. A shrinking job market or skills mismatch? Much of the national discourse has fixated on the so-called skills gap—the idea that workers lack the training needed to compete in a modern economy. But that explanation oversimplifies the problem. Many Americans are skilled but remain locked out of sectors where automation, outsourcing, and wage compression have reduced the availability of viable work. The bigger question: What counts as work in America today? At its core, the issue of functional unemployment is about more than data; it's about how we value labour and human dignity in a 21st-century economy. LISEP's findings force policymakers to confront the uncomfortable truth: Tens of millions of Americans are technically employed, yet economically invisible. It's not just a matter of training workers better. It's about rebuilding pathways to meaningful, sustainable employment, jobs that pay living wages, provide benefits, and allow for upward mobility. Is your child ready for the careers of tomorrow? Enroll now and take advantage of our early bird offer! Spaces are limited.
Scottish Sun
5 days ago
- Business
- Scottish Sun
English train station to shut for 2 years ahead of major £11.5million revamp to make a ‘railway that's fit for future'
It comes amid major investment in stations and trains across the country OFF TRACK English train station to shut for 2 years ahead of major £11.5million revamp to make a 'railway that's fit for future' Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) A RAILWAY station is set to close for two years ahead of major £11.5m improvement works. It comes amid major investment in stations and trains across the country with services affected across the UK. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 1 Deighton Station in Huddersfield is currently being upgraded as part of a programme of railway improvements in the UK Deighton Station in Huddersfield, West Yorkshire, will shut on August 30 and reopen in 2027. The work is part of the multi-billion-pound Transpennine Route Upgrade (TRU) programme of railway improvements being carried out by Network Rail. This includes the closure of Ty Glas station in Cardiff until spring 2026, part of the Welsh Government's £800 million investment in new trains. TRU sponsor Gareth Hope said the upgrade of Deighton Station "will allow the station to be brought up to modern standards and accommodate better rail travel across the North". The rebuilt station will boast two new tracks to allow faster services to overtake slower ones. It will also extend platforms to accommodate longer trains with more seats. There will also be a new footbridge with lifts for step-free access to both platforms. A new forecourt, including a drop-off point, accessible parking and improved waiting shelters, will also be built. 'Fit for the future' An hourly rail replacement bus service will operate between Huddersfield and Deighton while the station is closed. The service will stop at Brighouse from September 29 2025. Moment delivery driver lobs water bottles to passengers through windows of broken-down train after it got stuck in 33C As part of the work, Whitacre Street – which is already closed to vehicles – will be closed to pedestrians from August 20 until July 2026. Rob Warnes, strategic development director for Northern, said the work would support its aim of an "inclusive, accessible railway that's fit for the future". He added: "We recognise that delivery of works on this scale can cause disruption to the lives of our customers, and we are grateful for their continued patience." In Cardiff, improvements at Ty Glas will include five new, quieter Class 756 tri-mode trains rolled out on the Croyton and Caerphilly to Penarth lines. There will also be a new level crossing at the station. Station to station – exclusive railway tours Celebrate 200 years of British railway with these tours... As part of Railway 200, a year-long celebration marking two centuries of train travel in the UK, Network Rail is running exclusive tours of London Waterloo, London Victoria and London Bridge stations. Railway historian Rachel Kolsky will lead small groups of around 15 people on two-hour tours, offering glimpses into hidden areas of each station. Tours of London Waterloo, the UK's third busiest train station, will explore seven areas, including the London Necropolis Railway. Brits can also book tours of London Victoria, where they'll learn more about the station's glamorous past thanks to its ties to the well-known Orient Express. Tours of London Bridge will also be taking place to mark 200 years of train travel in the UK. The tours last two hours and cost £25 per person, with just 15 people on each tour. Tickets are available through Eventbrite. During the works, passengers will be directed to nearby Birchgrove station where they can seek alternative routes. Those needing to cross the railway will be diverted towards the Caerphilly Road bridge.
The Irish Sun
5 days ago
- Business
- The Irish Sun
English train station to shut for 2 years ahead of major £11.5million revamp to make a ‘railway that's fit for future'
A RAILWAY station is set to close for two years ahead of major £11.5m improvement works. It comes amid major investment in stations and 1 Deighton Station in Huddersfield is currently being upgraded as part of a programme of railway improvements in the UK Deighton Station in Huddersfield, West Yorkshire, will shut on August 30 and reopen in 2027. The work is part of the multi-billion-pound This includes the closure of Ty Glas station in Cardiff until spring 2026, part of the Welsh Government's £800 million investment in new trains. TRU sponsor Gareth Hope said the upgrade of Deighton Station "will allow the station to be brought up to modern standards and accommodate better rail travel across the North". The rebuilt station will boast two new tracks to allow faster services to overtake slower ones. It will also extend There will also be a new footbridge with lifts for A new forecourt, including a drop-off point, accessible parking and improved waiting shelters, will also be built. Most read in News Travel 'Fit for the future' An hourly rail replacement bus service will operate between Huddersfield and Deighton while the station is closed. The service will stop at Brighouse from September 29 2025. Moment delivery driver lobs water bottles to passengers through windows of broken-down train after it got stuck in 33C As part of the work, Whitacre Street – which is already closed to vehicles – will be closed to pedestrians from August 20 until July 2026. Rob Warnes, strategic development director for Northern, said the work would support its aim of an "inclusive, accessible He added: "We recognise that delivery of works on this scale can cause disruption to the lives of our customers, and we are grateful for their continued patience." In Cardiff, improvements at Ty Glas will include five new, quieter Class 756 tri-mode trains rolled out on the Croyton and Caerphilly to Penarth lines. There will also be a new Station to station – exclusive railway tours Celebrate 200 years of British railway with these tours... As part of Railway 200, a year-long celebration marking two centuries of train travel in the UK, Network Rail is Railway historian Rachel Kolsky will lead small groups of around 15 people on two-hour tours, offering glimpses into hidden areas of each station. Tours of London Waterloo, the UK's third busiest train station, will explore seven areas, including the London Necropolis Railway. Brits can also book tours of Tours of Tickets are available through Eventbrite. During the works, passengers will be directed to nearby Birchgrove station where they can seek alternative routes. Those needing to cross the railway will be diverted towards the Caerphilly Road bridge.
Scottish Sun
5 days ago
- Scottish Sun
Major railway station used by 100,000 each year set to close for 10 months for upgrade works
The works form part of a £800 million investment in new trains across the country OFF THE RAILS Major railway station used by 100,000 each year set to close for 10 months for upgrade works A MAJOR railways station used by 100,000 passengers each year is set to close for 10 months for improvement works. No trains will run from Ty Glas station in Cardiff until spring 2026, Transport for Wales said. 1 Ty Glas railway station is shut for major upgrades Credit: Improvements will include five new, quieter Class 756 tri-mode trains rolled out on the Croyton and Caerphilly to Penarth lines and a new level crossing at the station. During the works, passengers will be directed to nearby Birchgrove station where they can seek alternative routes. While those needing to cross the railway will be diverted towards the Caerphilly Road bridge. The improvement works form part of the Welsh government's £800 million investment in new trains across the country. Dan Tipper, chief infrastructure officer at Transport for Wales, said: "The temporary closure of Ty Glas station and its level crossing is a necessary step in our commitment to ensuring the safety of our passengers as we prepare to introduce brand-new tri-mode trains onto the Coryton line. Further details, including diversion routes, are available on the authority's website. This comes as it was announced that no trains will run through or stop at Huddersfield station in West Yorkshire between August 30 and September 29. The works are set to spark travel chaos for the roughly 300,000 travellers who use the station each month. After the closure, just three of the six current platforms will reopen on a temporary basis. New £18m Scots train station near Glasgow set to open next year This is to allow for work on the multibillion-pound Transpennine Route Upgrade (TRU) to continue. Gareth Hope, TRU sponsor, said the scheme would be "key to improving the journeys of millions of people across the north." Network Rail says the closure will allow developers to remodel the track and platforms. This change will "transform the layout of the station and enable more trains with more seats to run through the area on a greener, more reliable railway". The works will also enable future upgrades at the busy station to take place, including the restoration of its Grade II listed tea rooms. A new footbridge is also planned to be installed at West Yorkshire's second busiest station in the future, as part of its £70 million internal modernisation project. Huddersfield station has already completed some of its restorative work, which began in November 2023, with the terminus' canopy roof having its refurbishment finished up in April. The station's modernisation programme is due to be complete by 2027.
The Irish Sun
5 days ago
- The Irish Sun
Major railway station used by 100,000 each year set to close for 10 months for upgrade works
A MAJOR railways station used by 100,000 passengers each year is set to close for 10 months for improvement works. No trains will run from Ty Glas station in Cardiff until spring 2026, Transport for Wales said. Advertisement 1 Ty Glas railway station is shut for major upgrades Credit: Improvements will include five new, quieter Class 756 tri-mode trains rolled out on the Croyton and Caerphilly to Penarth lines and a new During the works, passengers will be directed to nearby Birchgrove station where they can seek alternative routes. While those needing to cross the railway will be diverted towards the Caerphilly Road bridge. The improvement works form part of the Welsh government's £800 million investment in new trains across the country. Advertisement Read more on News Dan Tipper, chief infrastructure officer at Transport for Wales, said: "The temporary closure of Ty Glas station and its level crossing is a necessary step in our commitment to ensuring the safety of our passengers as we prepare to introduce brand-new tri-mode trains onto the Coryton line. Further details, including diversion routes, are available on the authority's website. This comes as it was announced that no trains will run through or stop at Huddersfield station in West Yorkshire between August 30 and September 29. The works are set to spark travel chaos for the roughly 300,000 travellers who use the station each month. Advertisement Most read in The Sun Breaking After the closure, New £18m Scots train station near Glasgow set to open next year This is to allow for work on the multibillion-pound Transpennine Route Upgrade (TRU) to continue. Gareth Hope, TRU sponsor, said the scheme would be "key to improving the journeys of millions of people across the north." Network Rail says the closure will allow developers to remodel the track and platforms. Advertisement This change will "transform the layout of the station and enable more trains with more seats to run through the area on a greener, more reliable railway". The works will also enable future upgrades at the busy station to take place, including the restoration of its Grade II listed tea rooms. A new footbridge is also planned to be installed at West Yorkshire's second busiest station in the future , as part of its £70 million internal modernisation project. Huddersfield station has already completed some of its restorative work, which began in November 2023, with the terminus' canopy roof having its refurbishment finished up in April. Advertisement The station's modernisation programme is due to be complete by 2027.
