The David Lin Report 6 Million Jobs At Risk: The Biggest Threats To Labor Market Warns Economist | Heidi Shierholz
Aug 19, 2025
Heidi Shierholz, President of the Economic Policy Institute and former Chief Economist at the Department of Labor, shares her insights on the precarious state of the U.S. economy. She warns that potential deportations could lead to the loss of 6 million jobs. The discussion covers tariffs driving inflation, tax breaks worsening deficits, and how low minimum wages affect workers. Additionally, she highlights the significance of accurate labor data and the necessity of immigration reform to bolster economic health.
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Early Signs Of A Slowdown
- Heidi Shierholz sees the U.S. economy clearly slowing with rising unemployment and weak recent job gains.
- She warns recent patterns resemble what a recession would look like even if not definitive yet.
Tariffs Raise Prices, Not Pandemic-Level Inflation
- Tariffs act like a tax on imports and are passed on to consumers, raising prices.
- Heidi expects tariff-driven price increases but not the pandemic-era inflation spike.
Debt Purpose And Context Matter
- The reconciliation bill's big tax cuts will massively increase deficits while cutting benefits for the vulnerable.
- Heidi says debt purpose and current high inflation/interest context make these deficits economically harmful.