Summary: Please join us as Congresswoman Jenniffer González-Colón, labor policy experts, and representatives from the Financial Oversight and Management Board for Puerto Rico discuss reforms to help Puerto Rico reach its economic potential by attracting jobs for the 3 million American citizens living on the island. Puerto Rico suffers from one of the lowest labor force participation rates in the world, in part due to heavy-handed labor laws that reduce job opportunities and welfare rules that penalize participation in the formal labor market. Hurricanes Irma and Maria exacerbated Puerto Rico’s labor challenges as workers have flocked to the mainland in search of steady employment and improved living conditions. The panel will analyze how to improve access to good and plentiful jobs in Puerto Rico, in turn helping the economy of Puerto Rico grow and flourish.
