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Low Wage Rates and Low Income Very Common for Employed Single Mothers

A recent study by economists at the University of Massachusetts examined low-wage and low income work in the United States over the thirty year period 1979-2009.^[i]   This study defined “low-wage” as an hourly wage less than two-thirds of the state median hourly wage, and “low income” as a family income less than 200% of the official poverty level.   The study found that during these 30 years, 34% of employed single mothers were both working at a low-wage and in a family with a low income.  The 34% rate for employed single mothers was almost triple the 12.5% rate for all employed persons, and almost double the 18% rate for employed single fathers.  In 2009, the last year covered by this study, 39% of employed single mothers were in low-wage work, and 36% of employed single mothers were both low-wage and low income.^[ii] 

There were similar findings in an earlier study of low wage work commissioned by the federal government.[iii]  This study found that 44% of employed single mothers were in low-wage work in 1996 defined by the study as an hourly wage less than $7.50.

(July 2012.  Contact Timothy Casey, tcasey@legalmomentum.org, for further information.)

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