Business is booming.

Too Many Older Workers Are Stuck In Low-Wage Jobs

134


The Economist recently insisted that the “employment of older workers is vital if prosperity is to be maintained.” But as much as pundits insist work in old age is vital, meaningful, and fulfilling, the truth is that many of the jobs older people find themselves in sap their vitality and are hardly rewarding. 

In 2020, over one-fifth (21%) of the 35 million American workers 55 and over earned so little that they qualified as the working poor. That is the finding of my new research coauthored with Barbara Schuster. In comparison, 19% of mid-career workers—ages 35-54—earned wages low enough to be deemed working poor. (We use the conventional definition of low-wage as earning below two-thirds of the U.S. median annual hourly wage; the cutoff for low-wage was $15.29 an hour in 2020.)

Because of the persistent gender wage gap, 26% of women workers over 55 are working poor, compared to 16% of older working men. That number rises to 30% for working women 65 and older. Nonwhite workers 65 and up face similar risks; 31% work in low-wage jobs.

Pause here. These numbers suggest that as you get older, the chances you are working in a low-wage job increase.

Job quality for older workers is also too low. Many older workers have the kinds of jobs that break down health and provide little in the way of retirement or health benefits. Among the lowest-paid and fastest-growing occupations is home health and personal care. This occupation, which will add 1.1 million jobs between 2020 and 2030, often pays close to minimum wage; 56% are working poor. These jobs have few benefits, long hours, and intermittent work shifts. Though the aged-care workforce provides a core role for our society, employees often work alone with difficult clients who physically and verbally abuse them

Despite the physical demands on home health and personal care workers, the workforce runs old. Nearly one-third of home health and personal care workers are 55 or older. Another large category of workers employing a disproportionate share of older workers is maids and housekeeping cleaners, 29% of whom are 55 or older and 54% of whom are working poor. And older workers make up 34% of another hard job: janitorial services, about half of whom are working poor. (For a benchmark, 23% of all workers are 55 and up.)

What can we do for the older working poor? An aggressive set of policies to raise pay would help older workers. These policies include an increased minimum wage and fair workweek laws, as researcher Beth Truesdale of the W.E. Upjohn Institute argues. Increased union representation would also benefit the older workforce.

Another set of policies, usually not associated with directly raising pay, would in fact help get wages up. Policies to improve pensions and Social Security benefits would help increase pay for older workers. Why would better pensions increase pay? With higher non-work income, older workers would have more bargaining power. They could threaten to leave bad jobs unless their employers paid better, improved the working conditions, or raised the value of employee benefits.

While expanding the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) increases low-wage workers’ total income, it does not raise pay. The insidious unintended side effect of the EITC could be an expansion of low wage jobs. The EITC works as a partial subsidy to low-wage employers because the extra income to low-paid workers—which is conditional on them working in the first place—reduces the pressure on employers to raise wages. New School economists Aida Farmand and Owen Davis confirm the result that the EITC lowers the wages paid by employers.

Older workers may be the new precariat and it will take pension hikes, more pension coverage, higher Social Security benefits to help elders refuse the worst jobs in society until they are better.



Source link

134 Comments
  1. Vsvtkt says

    levaquin over the counter levaquin for sale

  2. Pgnvze says

    avodart over the counter buy zofran 4mg oral ondansetron 8mg

  3. Dwevni says

    aldactone price order finasteride 1mg for sale diflucan pills

  4. Lpmxmo says

    ampicillin sale oral ampicillin 250mg erythromycin for sale

  5. Uqyubb says

    sildenafil without prescription order nolvadex 20mg pills cheap robaxin

  6. Ezqakx says

    buy sildenafil generic buy sildalis sale estrace 1mg usa

  7. Sshcaz says

    lamotrigine 200mg usa order lamotrigine 200mg without prescription generic tretinoin cream

  8. Rsiyym says

    tadalis for sale online cheap voltaren 100mg buy diclofenac pill

  9. Xtpssx says

    purchase isotretinoin without prescription order amoxicillin 500mg generic order azithromycin generic

  10. Bkxpss says

    buy indomethacin online cheap purchase indomethacin without prescription order amoxicillin 500mg for sale

  11. Vsbrda says

    buy tadalafil 5mg without prescription reasons for ed order viagra 50mg sale

  12. Irxysv says

    buy arimidex 1mg pill Generic viagra us viagra pills

  13. Odxone says

    cialis 5mg prix pharmacie en ligne cialis 10mg viagra 25mg en france

  14. Eqmzch says

    order prednisone 5mg pill canadian pharmacies online viagra order online

  15. Vzthcj says

    cialis 5mg bestellen sildenafil generika rezeptfrei kaufen viagra 200mg ohne rezept

  16. Yafqad says

    provigil 200mg us Branded cialis diamox cheap

  17. Mklysg says

    buy doxycycline generic buy generic levitra 10mg order furosemide online

  18. Eyghxo says

    buy altace online cheap azelastine 10 ml tablet oral azelastine 10 ml

  19. Migvsj says

    buy buspar 5mg online buy generic dilantin buy generic ditropan 5mg

  20. Ebejnf says

    order fosamax online pepcid 40mg generic purchase famotidine online

  21. Arzsvg says

    cheap benicar 10mg purchase verapamil for sale order diamox sale

  22. Lcejfy says

    order prograf 1mg sale prograf 1mg pills ursodiol pills

  23. Ediyyp says

    order imdur pills azathioprine pills order micardis pill

  24. Ghpnym says

    oral zyban 150 mg order quetiapine 50mg pills seroquel pills

  25. Hnyqnn says

    molnunat 200mg over the counter cefdinir 300 mg cheap buy prevacid 30mg online cheap

  26. Dubuoj says

    order sertraline pills Fda approved viagra purchase sildenafil without prescription

  27. Kjttrz says

    purchase imuran for sale order protonix 40mg for sale buy viagra 100mg online cheap

  28. Qshwbj says

    real cialis Viagra or cialis viagra pills

  29. Fqdnhb says

    cialis 5mg pill order cialis 20mg online cheap cheap amantadine

  30. Bnfdml says

    buy revia 50mg sale purchase revia abilify order

  31. Lhyvzi says

    dapsone usa dapsone generic buy aceon 4mg generic

  32. Hcando says

    purchase provera without prescription praziquantel 600 mg cheap cyproheptadine 4mg sale

  33. Rktsdx says

    fluvoxamine 50mg for sale buy ketoconazole 200mg sale order glucotrol 10mg for sale

  34. Filmdn says

    generic accutane 20mg buy prednisone 20mg online cheap deltasone 5mg brand

  35. Phueec says

    piracetam 800 mg us nootropil canada pfizer viagra 50mg

  36. Afumit says

    buy zithromax 500mg sale azithromycin 250mg over the counter cheap neurontin generic

  37. Fsqgwp says

    buy generic cialis tadalafil 10mg cheap order sildenafil 50mg generic

  38. Eykwqv says

    purchase furosemide without prescription plaquenil canada hydroxychloroquine 200mg ca

  39. Mysqbv says

    cheap cialis online oral tadalafil 20mg clomipramine 50mg pill

  40. Tsyeaj says

    generic chloroquine buy chloroquine 250mg pill buy baricitinib generic

  41. Asjvir says

    order sporanox 100mg online order progesterone 100mg generic generic tindamax 300mg

  42. Shjufj says

    oral olanzapine 10mg cost diovan 80mg brand diovan

  43. Sbwhdu says

    brand amlodipine 5mg cheap viagra pill tadalafil 5mg price

  44. Vdhqmm says

    clozapine 50mg for sale generic decadron 0,0,5 mg decadron 0,5 mg cost

  45. Wdgyzc says

    sildenafil 50mg usa brand sildenafil order lisinopril 10mg without prescription

  46. Boftvq says

    order zyvox 600 mg online real online blackjack casino online

  47. Ziooeb says

    omeprazole without prescription buy omeprazole 10mg online cheap play online roulette for fun

  48. Wdgnkw says

    metoprolol 100mg cost purchase tenormin online levitra 10mg canada

  49. Nunoei says

    buy vardenafil 20mg without prescription vardenafil 10mg over the counter medrol canada

  50. Sepywj says

    buy a custom essay viagra 100mg pills for sale cialis viagra sales

  51. Dyuykv says

    clomiphene pills order albuterol online cheap real casino

  52. Orabaf says

    cialis 5mg canada cialis 5mg cheap sildenafil 200mg

  53. Ocspfg says

    order triamcinolone sale cheap clarinex order clarinex sale

  54. Dhtixa says

    buy generic dapoxetine 60mg order misoprostol 200mcg for sale synthroid 75mcg sale

  55. Ogynxv says

    tadalafil 20mg price order viagra online cheap viagra sildenafil 200mg

  56. Daqwoe says

    orlistat 120mg without prescription purchase zovirax generic order zovirax 400mg generic

  57. Osrxhp says

    cialis dosage 40 mg generic inderal 10mg brand clopidogrel

  58. Opvedg says

    methotrexate canada buy methotrexate 5mg order generic reglan 20mg

  59. Hyminl says

    buy motilium 10mg buy sumycin 250mg generic order cyclobenzaprine 15mg sale

  60. Fxugrn says

    order cozaar 25mg online cheap nexium 40mg canada order topamax 100mg online cheap

  61. Qseuch says

    order baclofen without prescription ozobax cost toradol pill

  62. Jjzphx says

    buy sumatriptan 50mg for sale purchase levaquin for sale avodart 0.5mg tablet

  63. Jswyoy says

    buy generic colchicine 0.5mg poker online free roulette game

  64. Jxdter says

    zantac 300mg tablet cheap meloxicam celecoxib cheap

  65. Envvgt says

    free online slots online blackjack casino free online roulette

  66. Jisbil says

    tamsulosin cheap order generic aldactone 25mg order spironolactone 25mg without prescription

  67. Lbhatr says

    otc cialis ampicillin medication cheap ciprofloxacin 500mg

  68. Dvnynv says

    purchase zocor for sale order proscar sale order finasteride 1mg online cheap

  69. Txxbwp says

    purchase flagyl flagyl online order order bactrim 960mg without prescription

  70. Bmboiu says

    buy diflucan online sildenafil 100mg england sildenafil 200 mg

  71. Mclwep says

    cephalexin pill purchase keflex generic oral erythromycin 250mg

  72. Jujmrv says

    buy cialis order generic cialis 20mg sildenafil 50mg price

  73. Itqipl says

    buy generic viagra 50mg us viagra tadalafil 10mg for sale

  74. Mlwqbq says

    ceftin 250mg sale careprost allergy spray cheap methocarbamol

  75. Mpdnii says

    poker online real money best real money casino price cialis

  76. Zyvbjz says

    desyrel brand order sildenafil pill oral aurogra

  77. Ouewmo says

    write me a paper writing assignments ivermectin 12 mg otc

  78. Fhoofo says

    sildenafil on line sildenafil professional purchase lamictal without prescription

  79. Kjbpuy says

    purchase deltasone sale buy prednisone 5mg generic amoxicillin buy online

  80. Vuxxtq says

    sildenafil 100mg usa order tadalafil sale order tadalafil 40mg without prescription

  81. Caanin says

    ocean casino online brand cialis pills buy cialis for sale

  82. Zscgms says

    brand zithromax 500mg gabapentin without prescription neurontin 800mg usa

  83. Btosto says

    online casino real money us stromectol usa provigil 200mg over the counter

  84. Fdbajh says

    buy furosemide 100mg pills brand doxycycline 100mg hydroxychloroquine buy online

  85. Vabnen says

    sildenafil sale tamoxifen 20mg ca rhinocort medication

  86. Ysanyr says

    prednisone 5mg sale brand minipress order mebendazole 100mg sale

  87. Poeuam says

    brand retin purchase retin order avanafil 100mg pill

  88. Igrmhp says

    order tadalafil 10mg order tadalafil 20mg online cheap indocin 50mg oral

  89. Gxdsup says

    lamisil 250mg pill buy terbinafine 250mg for sale trimox cheap

  90. Qlmovx says

    order clarithromycin 500mg sale buy clonidine online cheap buy meclizine 25 mg generic

  91. Psjpnt says

    oral naprosyn order prevacid 15mg generic order prevacid 30mg pills

  92. Bkpjkv says

    spiriva 9 mcg tablet buy terazosin 1mg pill order terazosin 5mg online cheap

  93. Hvgvqe says

    cheap proventil buy pantoprazole online order ciprofloxacin online cheap

  94. Jeebhk says

    buy actos 15mg sale buy generic sildenafil 50mg sildenafil 50mg

  95. Qkuenv says

    buy singulair pill singulair ca oral viagra

  96. Mftmmz says

    buy tadalafil 5mg online cheap Cialis woman no deposit casino

  97. Dxpxwu says

    cialis 40mg drug Cialis for sale tadalafil 20mg price

  98. Miifhc says

    buy ivermectin online cost symmetrel 100mg purchase avlosulfon generic

  99. Odmojg says

    real casino games gambling game caesars casino online

  100. Srfuwv says

    adalat 10mg for sale nifedipine generic fexofenadine 120mg price

  101. Nlhqxx says

    order altace 5mg online cheap ramipril 10mg for sale oral arcoxia

  102. Payrqk says

    buying essay essay helper buy sulfasalazine 500mg without prescription

  103. Hnwbbb says

    benicar 10mg generic buy divalproex 250mg online divalproex 500mg oral

  104. Eyteus says

    buy asacol for sale order avapro generic order avapro 300mg pill

  105. Cmvizs says

    acetazolamide for sale buy isosorbide 20mg generic buy imuran 50mg sale

  106. Vbisba says

    cost clobetasol clobetasol drug amiodarone 100mg cheap

  107. Vvlfmv says

    lanoxin 250 mg ca micardis 20mg canada molnupiravir 200mg price

  108. Httkqm says

    amoxil drug stromectol uk buy stromectol online

  109. Ldoenh says

    order carvedilol 25mg generic order amitriptyline 10mg generic buy amitriptyline 10mg online cheap

  110. Igebpx says

    priligy 60mg price domperidone 10mg without prescription domperidone sale

  111. Hkwfyu says

    buy indomethacin without prescription flomax uk cenforce pills

  112. Sjffdd says

    nortriptyline 25mg price order pamelor online cheap order paroxetine 20mg pills

  113. Cfslbm says

    order doxycycline online cheap medrol 4 mg without a doctor prescription medrol 8mg without a doctor prescription

  114. Trvsra says

    order famotidine 20mg generic remeron 30mg over the counter buy remeron 15mg generic

  115. Habkyj says

    tadalafil 20mg price tadalafil cheap trimox online

  116. Nwgvch says

    order tricor 160mg sale sildenafil 50mg drug buy viagra 100mg pill

  117. Qfdfgi says

    esomeprazole order online order biaxin generic buy lasix 40mg pill

  118. Zhwqnf says

    cialis 40mg cost tadalafil next day viagra 50mg for sale

  119. Qunriw says

    buy minocin 50mg generic purchase minocin without prescription order hytrin 1mg pill

  120. Uugmnz says

    buy cialis 10mg for sale levitra samples cheap ed pills

  121. Gbeijf says

    glucophage 500mg oral buy glycomet pill nolvadex oral

  122. Ojbcsj says

    provigil 200mg over the counter stromectol 3mg uk phenergan order

  123. Zazanv says

    clomiphene 50mg without prescription lipitor 20mg pill prednisolone 40mg uk

  124. Aanrrq says

    cost deltasone 5mg accutane tablet buy amoxicillin 250mg generic

  125. Znlane says

    sildenafil 100mg drug fildena 50mg tablet buy propecia 1mg online cheap

  126. Jgloxw says

    ivermectin price comparison order stromectol pill order prednisone 40mg without prescription

  127. Ipcxnj says

    ondansetron sale brand amoxil 500mg bactrim medication

  128. Zpigeo says

    buy isotretinoin 10mg generic order zithromax 250mg sale buy azithromycin 500mg

  129. 드라마카지노 says

    This is really interesting, You are a very skilled blogger. “드라마카지노”
    I’ve joined your feed and look forward to looking for more of your wonderful
    post. Additionally, I’ve shared your site in my social networks

  130. Ullpck says

    albuterol 4mg for sale augmentin for sale online buy augmentin

  131. 카지노사이트 says

    Good web site you’ve got here.. Itís hard to find high-quality
    카지노사이트
    writing like yours nowadays. I honestly appreciate people like
    you! Take care!!

  132. Claibm says

    prednisolone 10mg sale prednisolone 5mg for sale furosemide pills

  133. Weiijj says

    modafinil 100mg pill provigil 200mg usa cheap lopressor

  134. Stdwqk says

    vibra-tabs pills order generic levitra order zovirax 400mg generic

Leave A Reply

Your email address will not be published.