Good Jobs First
@goodjobsfirst.org
Good Jobs First has since 1998 been a leading watchdog on economic development subsidies. We also expose corporate crimes.
site: www.goodjobsfirst.org
trackers: goodjobsfirst.org/databases
newsletter: www.goodjobsfirst.org/subscribe
site: www.goodjobsfirst.org
trackers: goodjobsfirst.org/databases
newsletter: www.goodjobsfirst.org/subscribe
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has also seen a significant decrease in enforcement this year. OSHA’s imposed penalties dropped 47% from average penalties during similar periods each year since 2009.
December 16, 2025 at 3:18 PM
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has also seen a significant decrease in enforcement this year. OSHA’s imposed penalties dropped 47% from average penalties during similar periods each year since 2009.
The WHD not only ensures fair wages for all workers but enforces prevailing wage provisions in public works contracts. This guarantees market-based wages and benefits for some jobs. Here again, we saw drastic drops in penalties for Davis-Bacon Act violations.
December 16, 2025 at 3:18 PM
The WHD not only ensures fair wages for all workers but enforces prevailing wage provisions in public works contracts. This guarantees market-based wages and benefits for some jobs. Here again, we saw drastic drops in penalties for Davis-Bacon Act violations.
In the first nine months of this year, the Wage and Hour Division issued its lowest total monetary penalties for the same months of any year since 2009 — just $35 million in penalties, an 83% decrease in average penalties.
December 16, 2025 at 3:18 PM
In the first nine months of this year, the Wage and Hour Division issued its lowest total monetary penalties for the same months of any year since 2009 — just $35 million in penalties, an 83% decrease in average penalties.
NEW ANALYSIS: St. Louis-area tax abatements, especially TIF, have cost public schools $380M in 8 yrs.
Losses have grown significantly. In FY 24, it hit $70M.
We say: shield school taxes from abatements, give districts a say on TIFs, and curb data-center subsidies.
goodjobsfirst.org/increasing-s...
Losses have grown significantly. In FY 24, it hit $70M.
We say: shield school taxes from abatements, give districts a say on TIFs, and curb data-center subsidies.
goodjobsfirst.org/increasing-s...
December 10, 2025 at 4:11 PM
NEW ANALYSIS: St. Louis-area tax abatements, especially TIF, have cost public schools $380M in 8 yrs.
Losses have grown significantly. In FY 24, it hit $70M.
We say: shield school taxes from abatements, give districts a say on TIFs, and curb data-center subsidies.
goodjobsfirst.org/increasing-s...
Losses have grown significantly. In FY 24, it hit $70M.
We say: shield school taxes from abatements, give districts a say on TIFs, and curb data-center subsidies.
goodjobsfirst.org/increasing-s...
Especially as states face tough times with looming cuts from the federal government, It's time to end data center subsidies. Shy of that, states must drastically reform and reduce data center subsidies. Read our report:
November 11, 2025 at 7:21 PM
Especially as states face tough times with looming cuts from the federal government, It's time to end data center subsidies. Shy of that, states must drastically reform and reduce data center subsidies. Read our report:
NEW: 36 states lavish tax breaks on data centers. But just 11 of those states reveal the names of the companies getting the tax breaks, fewer disclose the value of the tax breaks, and NO state provides both estimated and actual jobs created. 1-
goodjobsfirst.org/cloudy-data-...
goodjobsfirst.org/cloudy-data-...
November 11, 2025 at 7:21 PM
NEW: 36 states lavish tax breaks on data centers. But just 11 of those states reveal the names of the companies getting the tax breaks, fewer disclose the value of the tax breaks, and NO state provides both estimated and actual jobs created. 1-
goodjobsfirst.org/cloudy-data-...
goodjobsfirst.org/cloudy-data-...
"According to a @bloomberg.com analysis, wholesale electricity now costs as much as 267% more for a single month than it did five years ago in areas located near significant data center activity."
www.bloomberg.com/graphics/202...
www.bloomberg.com/graphics/202...
October 1, 2025 at 1:43 PM
"According to a @bloomberg.com analysis, wholesale electricity now costs as much as 267% more for a single month than it did five years ago in areas located near significant data center activity."
www.bloomberg.com/graphics/202...
www.bloomberg.com/graphics/202...
Come work with us! We're hiring a full-time (remote) research director and a PT (16 hours) database consultant to help with Subsidy Tracker. Get details and apply here:
goodjobsfirst.org/jobs-and-int...
goodjobsfirst.org/jobs-and-int...
August 28, 2025 at 3:29 PM
Come work with us! We're hiring a full-time (remote) research director and a PT (16 hours) database consultant to help with Subsidy Tracker. Get details and apply here:
goodjobsfirst.org/jobs-and-int...
goodjobsfirst.org/jobs-and-int...
Here's just *some of the government money Musk's array of companies has received: subsidytracker.goodjobsfirst.org?company_op=s...
*Excludes consumer credits, government contracts, and other unreported subsidies
*Excludes consumer credits, government contracts, and other unreported subsidies
August 15, 2025 at 6:17 PM
Here's just *some of the government money Musk's array of companies has received: subsidytracker.goodjobsfirst.org?company_op=s...
*Excludes consumer credits, government contracts, and other unreported subsidies
*Excludes consumer credits, government contracts, and other unreported subsidies
Big Tech wants to destroy the environment, pay workers pennies, and extract every nickel possible from consumers.
And state and local governments keep rewarding them with new subsidies.
And state and local governments keep rewarding them with new subsidies.
August 6, 2025 at 1:41 PM
Big Tech wants to destroy the environment, pay workers pennies, and extract every nickel possible from consumers.
And state and local governments keep rewarding them with new subsidies.
And state and local governments keep rewarding them with new subsidies.
Voters reject arena for a THIRD time. This time, voters spoke louder than ever: They don't want their money going to a wealthy developer for a project that won't benefit them.
www.valleycentral.com/valleycentra...
h/t @gpropheter.bsky.social
www.valleycentral.com/valleycentra...
h/t @gpropheter.bsky.social
May 6, 2025 at 2:30 PM
Voters reject arena for a THIRD time. This time, voters spoke louder than ever: They don't want their money going to a wealthy developer for a project that won't benefit them.
www.valleycentral.com/valleycentra...
h/t @gpropheter.bsky.social
www.valleycentral.com/valleycentra...
h/t @gpropheter.bsky.social
We're hiring a research director! You'll ensure research consistency and standardization, train and support researchers, build and sustain relationships with external partners, and oversee our Subsidy Tracker & Tax Break Tracker databases.
Salary-$95-120K + benefits
goodjobsfirst.org/jobs-and-int...
Salary-$95-120K + benefits
goodjobsfirst.org/jobs-and-int...
April 16, 2025 at 4:22 PM
We're hiring a research director! You'll ensure research consistency and standardization, train and support researchers, build and sustain relationships with external partners, and oversee our Subsidy Tracker & Tax Break Tracker databases.
Salary-$95-120K + benefits
goodjobsfirst.org/jobs-and-int...
Salary-$95-120K + benefits
goodjobsfirst.org/jobs-and-int...
As this reporter notes, a remedy is to require companies that take property tax breaks to waive their right to future tax appeals as long as they're receiving the taxpayer subsidies.
The chart below shows some of the biggest double dippers:
www.thecity.nyc/2025/04/11/h...
The chart below shows some of the biggest double dippers:
www.thecity.nyc/2025/04/11/h...
April 11, 2025 at 3:52 PM
As this reporter notes, a remedy is to require companies that take property tax breaks to waive their right to future tax appeals as long as they're receiving the taxpayer subsidies.
The chart below shows some of the biggest double dippers:
www.thecity.nyc/2025/04/11/h...
The chart below shows some of the biggest double dippers:
www.thecity.nyc/2025/04/11/h...
Read their full report here: arxiv.org/pdf/2412.06288
March 4, 2025 at 4:02 PM
Read their full report here: arxiv.org/pdf/2412.06288
One of Elon Musk's subsidies was for X in the thriving Atlanta area.
In exchange for $10 million, he promised 24 "retained" jobs.
In exchange for $10 million, he promised 24 "retained" jobs.
February 26, 2025 at 6:36 PM
One of Elon Musk's subsidies was for X in the thriving Atlanta area.
In exchange for $10 million, he promised 24 "retained" jobs.
In exchange for $10 million, he promised 24 "retained" jobs.
Elon Musk is one of the biggest recipients of government aid.
Nearly two-thirds of Musk's $38 billion in government funding has been promised to his businesses just in the past five years, the story notes.
And Musk's $38 billion in government funding is surely an under-count.
Nearly two-thirds of Musk's $38 billion in government funding has been promised to his businesses just in the past five years, the story notes.
And Musk's $38 billion in government funding is surely an under-count.
February 26, 2025 at 3:18 PM
Elon Musk is one of the biggest recipients of government aid.
Nearly two-thirds of Musk's $38 billion in government funding has been promised to his businesses just in the past five years, the story notes.
And Musk's $38 billion in government funding is surely an under-count.
Nearly two-thirds of Musk's $38 billion in government funding has been promised to his businesses just in the past five years, the story notes.
And Musk's $38 billion in government funding is surely an under-count.
Of the 71 school districts we examined statewide, 17 school districts averaged more than $1,000 lost per student per year. In 2023, 29 districts lost more than $500 per student.
One school district, Spartanburg School District 5, lost more than $100 million to tax abatements in 2023.
One school district, Spartanburg School District 5, lost more than $100 million to tax abatements in 2023.
February 6, 2025 at 4:44 PM
Of the 71 school districts we examined statewide, 17 school districts averaged more than $1,000 lost per student per year. In 2023, 29 districts lost more than $500 per student.
One school district, Spartanburg School District 5, lost more than $100 million to tax abatements in 2023.
One school district, Spartanburg School District 5, lost more than $100 million to tax abatements in 2023.
In 2023, school districts reported tax abatement losses of $541 million, compared to $326 million in losses in 2017. The average net loss per school district grew from $5.3 million in 2017 to $8.9 million in 2023.
Figure 1: Average Net Revenue Loss Per School District, 2017 – 2023
Figure 1: Average Net Revenue Loss Per School District, 2017 – 2023
February 6, 2025 at 4:44 PM
In 2023, school districts reported tax abatement losses of $541 million, compared to $326 million in losses in 2017. The average net loss per school district grew from $5.3 million in 2017 to $8.9 million in 2023.
Figure 1: Average Net Revenue Loss Per School District, 2017 – 2023
Figure 1: Average Net Revenue Loss Per School District, 2017 – 2023
On average, this lost revenue could have paid for 6,641 more instructors each year, or a mix of hiring and teacher raises to reduce quit rates.
In a state plagued by teacher shortages, this missing money could have made a big difference.
goodjobsfirst.org/the-cost-of-...
In a state plagued by teacher shortages, this missing money could have made a big difference.
goodjobsfirst.org/the-cost-of-...
February 6, 2025 at 4:44 PM
On average, this lost revenue could have paid for 6,641 more instructors each year, or a mix of hiring and teacher raises to reduce quit rates.
In a state plagued by teacher shortages, this missing money could have made a big difference.
goodjobsfirst.org/the-cost-of-...
In a state plagued by teacher shortages, this missing money could have made a big difference.
goodjobsfirst.org/the-cost-of-...
Class-action lawsuits finalized in 2024 totaled $26.4B.
Major cases include PFAS (forever chemicals), anti-competitive practices, drug safety violations
🔴 2024's largest settlement: 3M to pay $12.5b for nationwide PFAS contamination of public water systems
Explore: violationtracker.goodjobsfirst.org
Major cases include PFAS (forever chemicals), anti-competitive practices, drug safety violations
🔴 2024's largest settlement: 3M to pay $12.5b for nationwide PFAS contamination of public water systems
Explore: violationtracker.goodjobsfirst.org
January 22, 2025 at 8:19 PM
Class-action lawsuits finalized in 2024 totaled $26.4B.
Major cases include PFAS (forever chemicals), anti-competitive practices, drug safety violations
🔴 2024's largest settlement: 3M to pay $12.5b for nationwide PFAS contamination of public water systems
Explore: violationtracker.goodjobsfirst.org
Major cases include PFAS (forever chemicals), anti-competitive practices, drug safety violations
🔴 2024's largest settlement: 3M to pay $12.5b for nationwide PFAS contamination of public water systems
Explore: violationtracker.goodjobsfirst.org
We've just updated Violation Tracker Global, our newest corporate misconduct database. 🚀
We added Luxembourg and Slovakia, bringing our total to 52 nations. New entries include:
🔴$74M fine against Google in Turkey
🔴$40M fine against Barclays in the UK
violationtrackerglobal.goodjobsfirst.org
We added Luxembourg and Slovakia, bringing our total to 52 nations. New entries include:
🔴$74M fine against Google in Turkey
🔴$40M fine against Barclays in the UK
violationtrackerglobal.goodjobsfirst.org
December 19, 2024 at 10:42 PM
We've just updated Violation Tracker Global, our newest corporate misconduct database. 🚀
We added Luxembourg and Slovakia, bringing our total to 52 nations. New entries include:
🔴$74M fine against Google in Turkey
🔴$40M fine against Barclays in the UK
violationtrackerglobal.goodjobsfirst.org
We added Luxembourg and Slovakia, bringing our total to 52 nations. New entries include:
🔴$74M fine against Google in Turkey
🔴$40M fine against Barclays in the UK
violationtrackerglobal.goodjobsfirst.org
Our original research, coupled with personalized technical assistance, has been used in campaigns small and big to rein in corporate welfare. We're proud of that.
Your support helps us keep at it!
goodjobsfirst.org/help-us-keep...
Your support helps us keep at it!
goodjobsfirst.org/help-us-keep...
December 17, 2024 at 5:15 PM
Our original research, coupled with personalized technical assistance, has been used in campaigns small and big to rein in corporate welfare. We're proud of that.
Your support helps us keep at it!
goodjobsfirst.org/help-us-keep...
Your support helps us keep at it!
goodjobsfirst.org/help-us-keep...
Our corporate misconduct database, Violation Tracker, has over 44K records and fines totaling $84,458,900,624 against healthcare companies. The cases involve defrauding the govt, introducing unproven drugs, endangering nursing home residents...
violationtracker.goodjobsfirst.org/summary?offe...
violationtracker.goodjobsfirst.org/summary?offe...
December 13, 2024 at 4:43 PM
Our corporate misconduct database, Violation Tracker, has over 44K records and fines totaling $84,458,900,624 against healthcare companies. The cases involve defrauding the govt, introducing unproven drugs, endangering nursing home residents...
violationtracker.goodjobsfirst.org/summary?offe...
violationtracker.goodjobsfirst.org/summary?offe...
"Dan Gilbert is the one of the richest men in the world with wealth in the billions of dollars.
But virtually every development undertaken by Gilbert, arguably Detroit’s leading business investor, has had the support of tax dollars."
www.detroitnews.com/story/opinio...
But virtually every development undertaken by Gilbert, arguably Detroit’s leading business investor, has had the support of tax dollars."
www.detroitnews.com/story/opinio...
December 5, 2024 at 9:43 PM
"Dan Gilbert is the one of the richest men in the world with wealth in the billions of dollars.
But virtually every development undertaken by Gilbert, arguably Detroit’s leading business investor, has had the support of tax dollars."
www.detroitnews.com/story/opinio...
But virtually every development undertaken by Gilbert, arguably Detroit’s leading business investor, has had the support of tax dollars."
www.detroitnews.com/story/opinio...
And we continue to expose the problems with data center subsidies, which recently have grown exponentially due to the intense energy demands of AI. Amazon aggressively seeks discounts on water and electricity- ratepayers make up the difference. We’ve alerted folks to that too (so have A+ reporters).
December 3, 2024 at 11:34 PM
And we continue to expose the problems with data center subsidies, which recently have grown exponentially due to the intense energy demands of AI. Amazon aggressively seeks discounts on water and electricity- ratepayers make up the difference. We’ve alerted folks to that too (so have A+ reporters).