(CNN Money) — The economy may be chugging along, but many Americans are still struggling to afford a basic middle class life.
Nearly 51 million households don’t earn enough to afford a monthly budget that includes housing, food, child care, health care, transportation and a cell phone, according to a study released Thursday by the United Way ALICE Project. That’s 43% of households in the United States.
The figure includes the 16.1 million households living in poverty, as well as the 34.7 million families that the United Way has dubbed ALICE — Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed. This group makes less than what’s needed “to survive in the modern economy.”
“Despite seemingly positive economic signs, the ALICE data shows that financial hardship is still a pervasive problem,” said Stephanie Hoopes, the project’s director.
California, New Mexico and Hawaii have the largest share of struggling families, at 49% each. North Dakota has the lowest at 32%.
Many of these folks are the nation’s child care workers, home health aides, office assistants and store clerks, who work low-paying jobs and have little savings, the study noted. Some 66% of jobs in the US pay less than $20 an hour.
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11 comments:
Finally someone printed the truth.
If everything is so GREAT why are so many struggling.
Don't have kids.
Doing some genealogical research going back to the early part of the 20th century, it's notable that several generations of our working class family members in two large cities occupied the same residences for years. There was no shame. It was practical. It was family.
It sucks to not have an advanced degree in America.
Not everyone can have or needs an advanced degree. Someone has to collect our trash, drive taxis, cook in our restaurants and hospitals, do grocery checkout, farm, pick crabs and do hundreds of other mundane jobs that make things easier for us all.
You are right 1:08, I don't know why people forgot that. Our son is 19, he lives with us and pays bills like us. As long as he works, earns his keep and is working to better himself there is no shame in it. We don't have any trouble from him at all and he offers to help above what he is expected to do. Having household and financial responsibilities prepares him better for life. He is not out there on his own partying all the time. Our 4 year old has chores too! He likes doing them because he feels important.
Then Hogan takes more money from retirees for medical / prescriptions.
People, It is CNN reporting this. Can we actually believe it or not? CNN / Democrats wanting more Welfare money.
1:21 PM only because you and other are ignorant. There are many "tradesmen" making big bucks without a degree. Only snobbish asses make such statements like yours. Neither Gates or Jobs finished college.
Your comment is as stupid as those looking down on others that did not pay for their indoctrination.
Hey they still get their drugs, cigarettes and have expensive cell phones. Screw rent and food! Priorities.
4:40 Great examples. 2 people out of 300+ million people. Try looking at facts:
Education and Lifetime Earnings. Men with bachelor's degrees earn approximately $900,000 more in median lifetime earnings than high school graduates. ... Women with a bachelor's degrees would earn $450,000 more in median lifetime earnings than high school graduates.
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