​In recent years, President Trump’s policies on social issues, particularly labor rights and wages, have had significant implications for worker productivity and overall market performance.​

Trump’s administration has implemented measures that have weakened labor protections. For instance, the Department of Labor (DOL) rolled back regulations safeguarding workers’ wages. Notably, the administration’s weaker overtime rule left approximately 8.2 million workers without anticipated benefits. Additionally, the narrowing of the joint-employer standard under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) made it more challenging for workers to hold all responsible parties accountable for wage and hour violations, potentially costing workers over $1 billion annually. ​

The administration’s erratic trade policies, characterized by broad and inconsistent tariffs, have created economic instability. These tariffs have led to increased prices, adversely affecting American consumers, especially the less affluent, and have failed to significantly boost domestic manufacturing. The unpredictability of these policies has deterred corporate investment due to a lack of stability and disrupted global supply chains, thereby harming economic growth and increasing the risk of recession. ​

Furthermore, the administration’s focus on fiscal policies targeting the U.S. fiscal and trade deficits, coupled with initiatives like the Department of Government Efficiency’s efforts to cut government payrolls, aim to improve long-term productivity. However, these measures have resulted in a short-term rise in unemployment. The tariffs, while causing market declines, are viewed by some analysts as negotiation tactics that could potentially lead to reduced tariffs and a stronger global economy if trade tensions do not escalate drastically.