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The Labor Studies program at UCLA provides undergraduate students with insights into workplace dynamics and the societal, political, and economic factors shaping them. The Institute for Research on Labor and Employment (IRLE) serves as a cross-disciplinary hub focused on studying, educating, and addressing labor and employment challenges. Through its key components—the UCLA Labor Center, Human Resources Roundtable, and Labor Occupational Safety and Health program—the Institute develops comprehensive research initiatives that connect UCLA with the Los Angeles community and broader regions.
For more than seven decades, the Institute has produced relevant, influential research on labor markets and workers' lives. Housing the UCLA Labor Center, its studies on immigrants, youth, and low-income workers have shaped policies like minimum wage laws, paid sick leave, and wage theft protections. The UCLA Labor Studies Program annually facilitates over 300 student internships with social justice and government organizations nationwide. Additionally, the Institute's Labor Occupational Safety and Health Program (LOSH) educates countless workers on vital health and safety practices. Meanwhile, the Human Resources Roundtable (HARRT) collaborates with businesses to build and maintain diverse, talented workforces across the country.