Here’s a stat for you: almost 40 million workers make less than $17 per hour. 😱
Here’s another one: the federal minimum wage has stayed stuck at $7.25 an hour and it hasn’t budged since 2009. 🥴 Before that, the last time it got a boost was 1983. Sheesh! 😤
A new report on America’s low wages just dropped. We read the fine print so you don’t have to! 👇
Here’s Five Fast Facts on the current state of workers’ wages:
- 🙌 Raise the Roof - This past January, 22 states raised their minimum wages. That gave almost 10 million workers a raise. Today, seven states have a minimum wage of $15 an hour or above. Washington, D.C. now has the highest minimum wage at $17.50 per hour.
- 👛 Penny Pinching - On the flip side, 20 states still have a minimum wage of $7.25 or less per hour. Not surprisingly, these states have the highest proportion of the lowest paid workers. In Mississippi, 33.9% of workers earn less than $17 an hour. Here are some of the other offenders: Oklahoma (31%), Louisiana (30.9%), Kentucky (30.8%), Texas (29.9%), and North Carolina (28.8%).
- ⚖️ Out of Balance - Which demographics are hit the hardest? Women and people of color. Roughly 33% of Hispanic or Latinx workers make less than $17 an hour as do 32% of black workers. Compare that to just 21% of white workers. The report also revealed that 27% of working women earn under $17 an hour, compared to 19% of men.
- 💁🏻♀️ All the Single Ladies - Single parents also get hit hard, especially single moms. According to the Census Bureau, single parent homes are roughly four times as likely to be run by moms over dads. Close to half of all single parents (42%) earn under $17 an hour.
- 💸 Just the Tip - The federal minimum wage for tipped workers is $2.13 per hour. According to the report, over half of all tipped wage workers nationwide (53%) earn less than $17 per hour. Check out this past article to learn why some tipped workers aren’t thrilled about initiatives that want to boost minimum wage.
🔥Bottom line: If you make less than $17 an hour, chances are you’re feeling a burn in your budget. Filling up a grocery cart, paying your bills, and keeping a roof over your head all require a pretty hard hustle these days. If you’re looking to boost your pay, sometimes finding a new job is the best way to do it. Check out these job search tips before you hit the job boards.
Do you feel like you’re paid a fair wage?
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