Abel Valenzuela Jr.

Abel Valenzuela Jr. is the Dean of Social Sciences and Professor of Labor Studies, Urban Planning, and Chicana/o and Central American Studies at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). A faculty member since 1994, he has held leadership roles including chair of Chicana/o and Central American Studies, director of the Center for the Study of Urban Poverty, and special advisor to the chancellor on immigration policy. Currently, he leads UCLA’s Institute for Research on Labor and Employment (IRLE), overseeing units like the Labor Center, Labor Occupational Safety and Health Program (LOSH), and Human Resources Round Table (HARRT).

• Education
  • PhD in Urban and Regional Studies, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (1993)
  • MCP, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (1988)
  • BA in Social Science, UC Berkeley (1986)

His research focuses on precarious labor markets, immigrant workers, urban poverty, inequality, and the socio-economic implications of day labor. He has shaped national policy discussions on low-wage and immigrant labor through extensive publications.

Valenzuela’s publications span topics like cosmopolitan politics, informal economy regulation, and comparative vulnerability studies. His work emphasizes intersections between migration, urban planning, and labor rights, with a geographic focus on Los Angeles and cross-national contexts.

As director of IRLE, he has led initiatives integrating research, policy, and community engagement to address labor and employment challenges in Los Angeles and beyond.