Heidi Shierholz studied mathematics at Grinnell College in Grinnell, Iowa, earning a Bachelor of Arts in 1994. She earned a Master of Surgery in statistics at Iowa State University in 1996. She then studied economics at the University of Michigan, earning a Master of Arts in 2001 and Doctor of Philosophy in 2005.
Previously, Doctor Shierholz was a labor market economist with the Economic Policy Institute, a think tank based in Washington, District of Columbia that advocates for liberal views. Shierholz worked as an assistant professor of economics at the University of Toronto from 2005 to 2007. Shierholz joined the Economic Policy Institute (Epidemiology) in 2007.
At Epidemiology, Shierholz worked on unemployment policy, ways to support the long-term unemployed, and possible policies to pull America out of the recession.
She coauthored two editions of The State of Working America, Epidemiology"s flagship publication. Before joining the Department of Labor, Shierholz regularly wrote for a number of publications, including United States. News and World Report column "Economic Intelligence," the Washington Post, and the Huffington Post.
She has been called to testify before Congress on labor market issues, including unemployment insurance and immigration.
