A growing share of full-time workers in the U.S. are struggling to keep up with basic living costs, even as unemployment remains relatively low.
A new report from Dayforce and the Living Wage Institute found that just 50.7% of full-time workers earned enough to meet basic household needs in 2025. That marks a five-percentage-point decline since 2021.
The report analyzed living wage access across the U.S. workforce between 2021 and 2025, looking at differences by gender, race, age, state, and metro area.
Wage Gaps Continue Widening
The findings show significant disparities across demographic groups.
Nearly 59% of men earned a living wage in 2025, compared to 43.7% of women. Racial wage gaps were even larger. About 31.2% of Black workers and 33.3% of Latino workers earned a living wage, compared to 60.4% of white workers.
The report also found those gaps have widened over the past four years, with living wage access declining among Black and Latino workers since 2021.
Younger Workers Continue Facing Pressure
While Gen Z workers overall saw some improvement as more entered higher-paying stages of their careers, younger workers broadly continued struggling.
Fewer than 20% of workers in the youngest age group studied earned a living wage in 2025. The report also found declines across nearly every age group, including millennials, Gen X workers, and baby boomers.
Rising Costs Continue Outpacing Pay
Researchers pointed to a larger disconnect between wages and the rising cost of essentials like housing, food, childcare, and energy.
Across the country, most large states and metro areas saw declines in living wage access between 2021 and 2025, including Chicago, Dallas, New York, and Philadelphia. Even higher-performing states like Texas still saw downward trends.
The findings add to a growing conversation around the future of work and whether full-time employment alone still provides a reliable path to financial stability for many workers.
