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1. LikeDislikeHow Low-Wage Workers Are CalledIn U.S. labor and policy discussions, low-wage workers are simply referred to as low-wage workers — there is no single alternative name, but the term is widely used in research, policy, and media. They are also sometimes described as part of the low-wage workforce or low-wage labor market WorkRise Network+1.Common DefinitionsResearchers and agencies use different but related definitions to identify low-wage workers:
   • Relative threshold: Earning less than two‑thirds of the median hourly wage for all prime‑age workers WorkRise Network.
   • Poverty threshold: Earning so little that even full‑time, full‑year work would place them below the poverty line for a family of four ASPE.
   • Cost‑of‑living threshold: Earning less than the hourly rate needed to avoid poverty in a specific area, adjusted for local living costs workingfordignity.ucsc.edu.
   For example, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and ASPE often use the poverty‑based definition, while organizations like WorkRISE use the two‑thirds‑of‑median wage method for comparability across studies WorkRise Network+1.Key CharacteristicsLow‑wage workers are often:
   • Ages 18–64, with a median hourly wage around $10.22 Brookings.
   • Frequently employed in sectors like retail, food service, clerical work, and construction Brookings.
   • More likely to be male, have less than a high school education, or be sole earners in their households Brookings.
   Why the Term Is UsedThe term “low‑wage worker” is preferred because it is clear, measurable, and policy‑relevant. It helps distinguish those in the lowest‑paying jobs from other workers, even if their wages are above the federal poverty line but still insufficient for a decent standard of living WorkRise Network+1.In short: They are called low‑wage workers, and the exact cutoff depends on whether you use a relative wage measure or a poverty‑based measure, but the label remains consistent across policy and research contexts.Read lessWorkRise NetworkWho Is the Low-Wage Workforce? – workrisenetwork.orghttps://workrisenetwork.org/sites/default/files/2023-10/technical-appendix-who-low-wage-workforce.pdfBrookingsA closer look at low-wage workers across the country | Brookingshttps://www.brookings.edu/articles/low-wage-workforce/Show All

1. WorkRise Networkhttps://workrisenetwork.org › sites › default › files › …^[PDF]Who Is the Low-Wage Workforce? – workrisenetwork.org
   • Page Count: 5
   • File Size: 137KB
   We define low–wage workers as those earning less than two-thirds of the median wage, following a commonly used, relative threshold used for characterizing low–wage work relative to the full wage distribution.
2. WordHippohttps://www.wordhippo.com › … › low-wage_worker.htmlWhat is another word for “low-wage worker”? – WordHippoFind 6 synonyms for “low-wage worker” and other similar words that you can use instead from our …
3. Investopediahttps://www.investopedia.com › terms › working-class.aspWorking Class: Definition, Compensation, and Job …May 25, 2025 · Working class is a contested socioeconomic term used to …
   • Author: Will Kenton
4. iowa.govhttps://workforce.iowa.gov › … › occupations › wage-reportIowa Wage Report – Iowa Workforce DevelopmentThe Iowa Wage Report is a product of Iowa Workforce Development that has been developed using data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational …
5. Wikipediahttps://en.wikipedia.org › wiki › Working_classWorking class – WikipediaConstruction workers, commonly regarded as working class, at work at St. Paul’s Hospital Cardiac center in Ethiopia, 2017 The working class is a group of people …
6. ibew405.orghttps://ibew405.orgIBEW Local 405 – Cedar Rapids, IowaThe International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 405 was chartered in 1911 to help electrical workers in eastern Iowa bargain for safer working …
7. Tri-Dam Projecthttps://www.tridamproject.com › files^[PDF]2024-2025 IBEW WAGE SCHEDULE – tridamproject.comJun 20, 2024 · 2024-2025 IBEW WAGE SCHEDULE.
8. nclej.orghttps://nclej.org › key-issues › low-wage-workersLow-Wage Workers – National Center for Law and …Wage theft is rampant: all too often, employers violate labor and employment laws by failing to pay the minimum wage for all hours worked, refusing to pay …
9. IBEWhttps://ibew.orgHome – International Brotherhood of Electrical WorkersThe International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers represents approximately 887,000 active members and retirees who work in a …
10. Cedar Rapids, Iowahttps://www.cedar-rapids.org › local_government › …Labor Relations, Job Classification and Compensation – Cedar Rapids, …If you have any questions on the collective bargaining agreements, please contact our general HR line …
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