Families' job characteristics and economic self-sufficiency: Differences by income, race-ethnicity, and nativity
Policy debates about whether wages and benefits from work provide enough resources to
achieve economic self-sufficiency rely on data for workers, not working families. Using data
from the Current Population Survey, we find that almost two-thirds of families working full
time earn enough to cover a basic family budget, but that less than a quarter of low-income
families do. A typical low-income full-time working family with wages below a family budget
would need to earn about $11.00 more per hour to cover expenses. This wage gap is larger …
achieve economic self-sufficiency rely on data for workers, not working families. Using data
from the Current Population Survey, we find that almost two-thirds of families working full
time earn enough to cover a basic family budget, but that less than a quarter of low-income
families do. A typical low-income full-time working family with wages below a family budget
would need to earn about $11.00 more per hour to cover expenses. This wage gap is larger …