'Low-wage US workers suffer the most'

'Low-wage US workers suffer the most'
Sun, 03 Aug 2008 21:06:34

   A recent poll shows that economic difficulties have worst hit the country's low-income workers, who face growing financial insecurity.

The poll, conducted by The Washington Post, the Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation and Harvard University, reveals that may low-wage workers in the United States are struggling to pay for their essential needs, such as housing, food and health care.

The data was collected from 1,350 randomly selected people between the age of 18 and 64, who earned $27,000 last year by working a minimum of 30 hours a week.

Low-wage workers, who generally regard themselves as the working class, are more likely to be from the younger age groups. They also tend to be less educated than the general public, as most hold no more than a high school degree. Around half have families that earn an approximate sum of $42,000 annually, which is no more than double the poverty-level income for a family of four.

The gap between the lowest and highest US wages has widened as it never has since the 1920s. Low-income workers have not experienced a pay-rise for some time. This is while the larger portion of work rewards goes to the better-educated and better-paid employees.

With US inflation up 5 percent in the past year, the majority of those surveyed said they found it more difficult to pay for gas, save for retirement or put money aside for their children's college education. Most said they had trouble affording health care and housing, and nearly half said they had difficulty paying for food.

The majority are even trying to lower their expenditures by minimizing their electricity and heating costs or postponing necessary medical or dental care.

Half of low-wage workers said they felt 'less secure' financially compared to a few years ago, while 41 percent said they had borrowed money from friends or relatives to get by. Almost half said they would only survive a month before landing in financial trouble if they suddenly lost their jobs.

Nearly half of respondents said their personal financial situation was worse under President Bush, while only 11 percent said things had got better. The majority also said the best years for finding a job has passed.

A majority of those surveyed said they expected the government to provide cheaper health insurance, more affordable fuel, financial aid for higher education, and public works jobs. Half of low-wage workers also said the globalization of trade had made things worse for the country as a whole.

MJ/RA