80% of New Jobs Don’t Pay ‘Livable Wage’

About 80% of new jobs created in California over the last four years do not pay enough to support a family of four, according to a study by a Massachusetts-based public policy research group. Nationwide, that figure is 74%, the National Priorities Project report concluded. The findings, culled from state and federal consumer and labor statistics, indicate that despite economic boom times, most new jobs are low-wage, service-sector positions with few benefits. According to the report, the “livable wage” for a family of four in California is about $35,000 a year, yet three of the four fastest-growing jobs--waiting tables, cashiering and retail sales--pay less than $16,000. The study excluded common household expenses such as life insurance and credit card debt. The report was done in conjunction with a labor-related organization, Jobs for Justice, which contends that Californians leaving the welfare rolls will not be able to find jobs that meet the “living wage” threshold.