iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Elizabeth Weber Handwerker @elizwebhand.bsky.social · 10h

I have updated the "Proposed Changes in Prevailing Wages" section of my 2-page overview of prevailing wage requirements for the H-1B program, at www.congress.gov/crs-product/...

congress.gov

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Elizabeth Weber Handwerker @elizwebhand.bsky.social · 24/09/2026

I don't generally follow Sports. But I'm rooting for the woman who's older than me and still competing in international gymnastics competitions.

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Elizabeth Weber Handwerker @elizwebhand.bsky.social · 24/09/2026

One of the employee organizations at my workplace puts on an exhibit of arts and crafts by employees. I submitted a piece of needlework.

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Elizabeth Weber Handwerker @elizwebhand.bsky.social · 18/09/2026

I was listening to www.nber.org/conferences/... and heard a reference to work done by my former colleague Ian Rucker, who died too young. I remember Ian.

nber.org

Innovations in Measuring Employment, Fall 2026

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Elizabeth Weber Handwerker @elizwebhand.bsky.social · 09/09/2026

I have been wanting to cite this paper for years to explain what we can learn from JOLTS that we really can't learn from any other source.

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Elizabeth Weber Handwerker @elizwebhand.bsky.social · 04/09/2026

It looks like BLS just added more charts to the official set released as part of the Employment Situation! www.bls.gov/charts/emplo...

bls.gov

Civilian unemployment rate

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Elizabeth Weber Handwerker @elizwebhand.bsky.social · 31/07/2026

The new bridge between the US and Canada appears to have a bike lane that will open this week. It goes from Michigan to a place in Canada called "Sandwich Town," which is a weirdly appropriate place name for the end of a scenic bike lane.

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Elizabeth Weber Handwerker @elizwebhand.bsky.social · 08/07/2026

Some years ago, I was attending an economic research conference and noticed one of the presenters was attending remotely, with a baby on her shoulder at times. A quick online search showed she was the mother of nine children. Forget about the "influencers;" I want to read a profile of that woman.

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Elizabeth Weber Handwerker @elizwebhand.bsky.social · 01/07/2026

We don't have children to keep them in the womb forever. But some days letting a fledgeling fly are harder than others.

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Elizabeth Weber Handwerker @elizwebhand.bsky.social · 22/06/2026

As far as I know, Alan Greenspan was the only person to chair the Council of Economic Advisers to the President (Sept 1974 - Jan 1977) before earning a PhD (later in 1977).

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Elizabeth Weber Handwerker @elizwebhand.bsky.social · 21/06/2026

Fellow Maryland residents--what is going on with the rabbits this year? It feels like I can't walk down my block without spotting one or two or five. I've heard suggestions that the foxes got sick this year, so more rabbit kits survived. Any actual evidence for this?

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Elizabeth Weber Handwerker @elizwebhand.bsky.social · 02/06/2026

I wrote a CRS two page overview of what we can and cannot learn about labor markets from employer reports (thinking about the impacts of AI on labor markets). It's at www.congress.gov/crs-product/...

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Elizabeth Weber Handwerker @elizwebhand.bsky.social · 01/06/2026

When this paper was presented, someone in the room said, "just don't think you can measure the impact of AI by asking the employers," and all the measurement experts laughed. I wrote a two page explanation of why not for people who aren't measurement experts. It's at www.congress.gov/crs-product/...

congress.gov

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Elizabeth Weber Handwerker @elizwebhand.bsky.social · 31/05/2026

A nice perk of my current job is an employee chorale to sing with at lunchtime. We have a concert coming up on June 10th at noon in the Coolidge auditorium of the Jefferson building. Free admission, open to the public, etc.

Library of Congress employee chorale performing at noon on June 10th in the Coolidge auditorium.

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Elizabeth Weber Handwerker @elizwebhand.bsky.social · 14/05/2026

Just published (with one of my lawyer colleagues): a two-page overview of the McNamara-O'Hara Service Contract Act (SCA) of 1965: What and who it covers, what it requires, how it's enforced, and recent proposals in Congress to change it. www.congress.gov/crs-product/...

congress.gov

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Reposted by Elizabeth Weber Handwerker

Ethan Mollick @emollick.bsky.social · 03/05/2026

The single most accurate science fiction author writing about AI turned out to be… Douglas Adams He wrote about AIs that work best when emotionally manipulated & that guilt you in turn. And he understood there was no upper bound on test time compute for hard problem. Also dolphin communication!

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Elizabeth Weber Handwerker @elizwebhand.bsky.social · 21/04/2026

Just got a notification that my January complaint about a crosswalk blocked by winter snow has now been resolved. Seriously, @marylanddot.bsky.social?

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Elizabeth Weber Handwerker @elizwebhand.bsky.social · 26/03/2026

I love the walk between Metro and the office.

Cherry and Magnolia trees in bloom outside the Supreme Court.

Cherry trees in bloom in lower Senate Park.

Flowers in bloom outside the Russell Senate office building.

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Elizabeth Weber Handwerker @elizwebhand.bsky.social · 26/03/2026

In my current role, I cannot present unpublished research. However, I am able to serve as a discussant. If you're putting together a session and you need a discussant in one of my areas of expertise, please reach out to me.

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Elizabeth Weber Handwerker @elizwebhand.bsky.social · 26/03/2026

New H1-B and PERM wage regulation just dropped. As expected, it would raise wage requirements: www.federalregister.gov/public-inspe... Changes the administration is making to the H-1B and PERM programs (raising wage requirements) and the H-2A program (lowering wage requirements) are so different.

federalregister.gov

Public Inspection: Improving Wage Protections for the Temporary and Permanent Employment of Certain Foreign Nationals in the United States

Improving Wage Protections for the Temporary and Permanent Employment of Certain Foreign Nationals in the United States

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Elizabeth Weber Handwerker @elizwebhand.bsky.social · 23/03/2026

I attempted to summarize causal estimates of the impact of immigration enforcement on labor markets in two pages, at www.congress.gov/crs-product/...

congress.gov

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Reposted by Elizabeth Weber Handwerker

Library of Congress @librarycongress.bsky.social · 16/03/2026

The Library is looking for its next Innovator in Residence! Through April 10, the Library invites technologists, artists and other creative visionaries to propose imaginative proof of concepts designed to help the public connect with digital Library materials. newsroom.loc.gov/news/library...

Graphic reads "Be the next Innovator in Residence"

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Elizabeth Weber Handwerker @elizwebhand.bsky.social · 10/03/2026

I've been reading a great deal about current and potential impacts of AI on labor markets. Just published: a 2-page overview of frameworks for thinking about this: www.congress.gov/crs-product/...

congress.gov

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Elizabeth Weber Handwerker @elizwebhand.bsky.social · 09/03/2026

I was selected as a respondent to fill out O*Net questionnaires. I had opinions about O*Net before. Now I have more informed opinions...

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Elizabeth Weber Handwerker @elizwebhand.bsky.social · 27/02/2026

Tayari Jones wrote a novel that is getting a lot of attention. I haven't read it. But I think more people should know about her mom, economics professor Barbara Ann Posey Jones: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barbara...

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Elizabeth Weber Handwerker @elizwebhand.bsky.social · 04/02/2026

I would like to know what it would take for more legacy media companies to be owned by local non-profit organizations (following the example of The Philadelphia Inquirer). Who should I follow to learn more about this? (This is my own interest, NOT a topic I am researching on behalf of my employer)

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Elizabeth Weber Handwerker @elizwebhand.bsky.social · 29/01/2026

I've written a report on all the changes to wage regulations for H-2A temporary agricultural worker visas since the H-2A program began in the 1980s. The report is at www.congress.gov/crs-product/....

congress.gov

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Elizabeth Weber Handwerker @elizwebhand.bsky.social · 06/01/2026

Five years ago, I had a very sick child and referrals to several pediatric medical specialists and tests in a building a few blocks from the US Capitol. The kid got a diagnosis. Treatment worked. But for me, January 6, 2020 means memories of rescheduling medical appointments for a very sick child.

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Elizabeth Weber Handwerker @elizwebhand.bsky.social · 22/12/2025

This is why BLS has been requesting funding to test an online version of the CPS, which is currently conducted by phone. (AKA "modernizing the CPS")

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Elizabeth Weber Handwerker @elizwebhand.bsky.social · 11/12/2025

For months, I've been walking by a tent of protestors for various causes on my way to work. This morning, they're gone. Sounds like their permit was revoked for "beautification work."

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Elizabeth Weber Handwerker @elizwebhand.bsky.social · 10/12/2025

Those who know me IRL know I often wear hats. Today I learned there is a member of Congress with many more--and many fancier--hats than me. Rep. Alma Adams (NC-12) has given interviews about her hats! spectrumlocalnews.com/nc/triangle-...

spectrumlocalnews.com

Hats on: Visiting U.S. Rep. Alma Adams and her fashion

Adams is famous for her hat fashion.

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Elizabeth Weber Handwerker @elizwebhand.bsky.social · 07/12/2025

Sitting down this evening to plan our CFC contributions (charitable contributions via payroll deduction for federal employees) for this coming year. I was pleasantly surprised to find that all the organizations on my list in 2025 are still eligible for CFC contributions in 2026.

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Elizabeth Weber Handwerker @elizwebhand.bsky.social · 01/12/2025

My colleague Jill Wilson and I have published a short summary of recent developments regarding H-1B visas at www.congress.gov/crs-product/...

congress.gov

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Elizabeth Weber Handwerker @elizwebhand.bsky.social · 27/11/2025

Agricultural wages have been rising. Especially for fruit and vegetable crops that are picked by hand, this is a big deal. I wrote about this at www.congress.gov/crs-product/...

congress.gov

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Reposted by Elizabeth Weber Handwerker

Erika McEntarfer @erikamcentarfer.bsky.social · 20/11/2025

So great to see BLS back to work measuring and informing us about our large and dynamic economy. It’s a great institution full of dedicated civil servants deeply committed their mission. They have had a tough year, and everyone is covering for someone who left. I thank them all for their service.

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Elizabeth Weber Handwerker @elizwebhand.bsky.social · 09/11/2025

A whole article about people advocating eschewing modern birth control because they want to avoid artificial hormones, and the reporter never asks why they don't just advocate for Paragard (the very effective and easily reversible no-hormone IUD) instead? www.nytimes.com/2025/11/09/u...

nytimes.com

The MAHA-Fueled Rise of Natural Family Planning

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Elizabeth Weber Handwerker @elizwebhand.bsky.social · 06/11/2025

Trying to use my furlough well. Yesterday, I went on a long bike ride and fixed things around the house. This morning, I have soup simmering in the stove and children's clothing to mend while I listen to www.piie.com/events/2025/...

piie.com

Bridges and borders: Economic policy across North America

This conference organized by PIIE and the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas examines key policy and economic challenges shaping the future of North American integration, with a focus on labor mobility, r...

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Elizabeth Weber Handwerker @elizwebhand.bsky.social · 20/10/2025

A year ago, I noticed a new lump in my body. Medical tests showed I had a very treatable early stage common cancer. Over the past year, I had surgery to remove the lump, plus chemotherapy, radiation, and continuing medication to reduce the likelihood of it coming back. I learned a few things:

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Elizabeth Weber Handwerker @elizwebhand.bsky.social · 19/10/2025

12 years ago today I went back to work at BLS at the end of the 2013 shutdown. I remember watching then-Associate Commissioner Wiatrowsky pushing a cart into the building stacked with dozens of pizzas for his staff.

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Elizabeth Weber Handwerker @elizwebhand.bsky.social · 30/09/2025

Time to write my annual list of home production tasks to complete if there is a lapse in federal appropriations.

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Elizabeth Weber Handwerker @elizwebhand.bsky.social · 29/09/2025

I really like the way my brother-in-law (the candidate for public office) presents his city's budget visually in this pair of videos: youtu.be/RehrElsji7w?... and youtu.be/UQ8Ohc1six0?...

youtu.be

A $107.5M pallet of cash! Let's see where our revenue comes from in our Melrose FY26 city budget

YouTube video by Jason Chen for Melrose City Councilor-at-Large

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Elizabeth Weber Handwerker @elizwebhand.bsky.social · 21/09/2025

I finally had a chance to listen to this talk in full. Worth hearing. And someone asked Erika about changes in the imputation of CPI data at the very end; her answer was illuminating.

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Elizabeth Weber Handwerker @elizwebhand.bsky.social · 18/09/2025

Happy Constitution Day! I like the resources the Library of Congress has assembled on the Constitution: constitution.congress.gov

constitution.congress.gov

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