Nearly 40% of Hourly Workers Not Earning Enough for Basic Needs

Nearly 40% of hourly and skilled-based workers say their take-home pay is not enough to meet basic needs, according to new research.

New research paints a worrying picture for American workers, with nearly 40% of hourly and skilled-based workers saying their take-home pay is not enough to meet basic needs.

The ‘America@Work: 2022 Report on the American Workforce’ by Jobcase surveyed 4,000 hourly and skilled-based employees in the U.S.

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Only 37% of workers surveyed feel confident about their future financial security, with inflation a top concern for employees.

Inflation has caused about 2 in 3 employees to consider taking drastic action, such as switching jobs (23%), switching industries (18%) or going back to school (16%). Only 26% reported that they had received a raise due to inflation.

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The top industries in which workers say they lack income for basic needs include:

Healthcare (55%)
Office administration (53%)
Customer service (53%)
Education (51%)
Retail (48%)

Surveyed employees were asked to define what they deem a “good employer”. Responses include competitive pay (57%), good leadership (55%), healthcare benefits (48%), paid time off (47%), opportunities for advancement (43%), and a flexible schedule (42%).

Fred Goff, co-founder & CEO of Jobcase, said: “As we fight inflation and navigate recession fears, this is a moment to lean into empowering workers more, not less, wherever we can. Worker concerns are common sense, and their requests are reasonable. Addressing them will benefit employers in the long-run every bit as much as it will benefit employees.”