William Spriggs

William Spriggs was Professor and former Chair of Economics at Howard University until his passing in 2023. He served as Chief Economist to the AFL-CIO and Assistant Secretary for Policy at the U.S. Department of Labor (2009-2012).

He held a PhD in Economics from University of Wisconsin-Madison and a BA from Williams College. His research analyzed racial disparities in labor markets, unemployment insurance equity, and the impacts of minimum wage policies.

Spriggs published extensively on economic inequality, social security reform, and racial wage gaps. He was President of the National Economic Association and served on advisory boards for Social Security and Medicare.

His policy work emphasized equitable economic recovery and the racial implications of financial policies. Spriggs testified frequently before Congress on labor and economic justice issues.