Labor Market Strength Test
Kenan Institute Research Economist Sarah Dickerson analyzes what she calls strong but softening employment numbers in our June briefing after the economy added jobs for the third straight month.
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NC Growth Building Business Resilience
NCGrowth clients share their perspectives on the value of partnering with NCGrowth. The Engagement Week video highlights how NC Growth supports small business resilience, showcasing real-world efforts that help businesses adapt, and thrive.
Riding the Seesaw
Kenan Institute Research Fellow Greg Brown breaks down another solid employment report and discusses potential challenges ahead in our May briefing.
Dean’s Speaker Series: Daniel Zhao
Drawing on Glassdoor employee sentiment and workplace review data, Glassdoor Chief Economist Daniel Zhao examined how recent workplace shifts have reshaped worker priorities, confidence and job security.
The Fed’s New Test
Research Fellow Christian Lundblad discussed a surprising jobs number and a complicated time for the Fed, as the possibility of an oil-driven increase in the inflation rate looms over future interest rate decisions.
Economic Risk in the Age of AI and Escalation
Kenan Institute Chief Economist Gerald Cohen discusses an unexpected decline in jobs and potential economic effects of artificial intelligence and the Middle East conflict in our March briefing.
Economic Health Risks?
Research Director Camelia Kuhnen gave her analysis of the morning’s new employment numbers and the US economic picture at the institute’s February briefing.
Announcing the 2026 Grand Challenge: What Are the Three Big Questions Behind Renegotiating Work?
At the Kenan Institute, our 2026 Grand Challenge asks three big questions about the future of work. Watch now as our experts preview what we’ll explore throughout this yearlong exploration. We are excited to announce the 2026 Grand Challenge is Renegotiating Work: Balancing Workplace Demands in Uncertain Times.
New Jobs Data and the 2026 Economic Outlook
Chief Economist Gerald Cohen saw reason for concern in the December employment numbers and previewed his Five Economic Trends for 2026 piece. He also answered questions on productivity growth and reductions in the federal workforce.
Dealing with Data Uncertainty
With government economic data reports only beginning to resume, institute Research Fellow Greg Brown looked at a variety of available indicators pointing in different directions and the theory that “the economy is actually pretty strong.”
Insights from the 2025 Frontiers of Business Conference
At the 2025 Frontiers of Business Conference, experts shared what it will take to bridge the skills gap. Hear which soft skills are growing in importance, how AI is reshaping expectations and why continuous learning is becoming the new norm.
Dean’s Speaker Series: Reggie Townsend
Reggie Townsend, vice president of the Data Ethics Practice at SAS, spoke on “Responsible Innovation, Responsible Innovators” in the Kenan Center Dining Room on November 4.
Filling the Data Gap
With no government employment data to discuss, institute Chief Economist Gerald Cohen ran through a scorecard of alternative measures, calling the country’s economic road “curvy and foggy” and concluding that things are “OK but not great.”
2025 Frontiers of Business Conference Recap
The Frontiers of Business Conference brought together voices from business, education and government to explore the skills needed to move society forward. Relive the energy and insights from the day and enjoy the recap video.
The Shutdown Edition
With the government shut down, there was no new employment report to analyze for our October briefing, but institute Research Fellow Greg Brown ran through his “U.S. Economy Scoreboard,” examining available economic indicators.
Consumer Mood Check-In
For our September economic briefing, Kenan Institute Research Director Camelia Kuhnen discussed the morning’s employment report, which showed a lower-than-expected number of jobs created in August, as well as other indicators that the economy is slowing.
Jobs Report: A Moment of Clarity?
Research Fellow Christian Lundblad saw more “muckiness” than clarity as he analyzed fresh employment numbers in addition to several other date drops from the week leading up to the institute’s August briefing.
Tariffs and Deportations
Research Economist Sarah Dickerson shared news of healthy jobs numbers from June and looked at the effects of a decrease in foreign-born workers on new home construction.
Policymaking, Fast and Slow
In the institute’s June briefing, Chief Economist Gerald Cohen reviewed the morning’s employment report for May and examined a number of economic indices for potential effects from recent policy changes.
40 Years of Impact: The Kenan Institute of Private Enterprise
Learn about the legacy and the future of the Kenan Institute of Private Enterprise, part of UNC Kenan-Flagler Business School at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, as it marks its 40th anniversary.
Not-So-Great Expectations
In the institute’s May 2 briefing, Research Economist Sarah Dickerson reviewed another surprisingly solid employment report, weighing it with falling consumer confidence and a raft of other indicators both positive and negative in an effort to get clarity on the future of the economy.
Consumers’ Darkening Mood
In the institute’s April 4 briefing, Research Director Camelia Kuhnen dissected consumer confidence and sentiment data with an emphasis on growing pessimism among young people and answered questions on potential economic effects of new tariffs.
A Hard Look at the Hard Data
For the institute’s March 7 briefing, Chief Economist Gerald Cohen discussed an encouragingly “benign” employment report and discussed “animal spirits,” the slower growth of inflation-adjusted wages, and potential effects of tariffs across the economy.
Effects of Policy Uncertainty
In the institute’s February 7 briefing, Research Fellow Greg Brown analyzed the morning’s employment report and discussed how the unpredictability of changes rippling through Washington could impact the US economy.