about the issues

Millions of women, despite working full-time year-round, earn too little to support themselves and their families. Many have no sick leave or paid time off, cope with unpredictable work schedules, and are subjected to harassment.

Low-wage work impoverishes families and limits access to education, health care, and opportunities to succeed. This is a problem for families, communities and the nation. We all pay the costs of low-wage work.

Working Women for Change is a Women Employed initiative led by women business and civic leaders to build awareness about the problem of low-wage work and win changes in public policies and corporate practices. Featured on The NewsHour with Jim Lehrer, Working Women for Change seeks to improve  the wages and working conditions of women in front-line jobs in Chicago. Learn about our campaign and efforts to educate consumers about business best practices for women in low-wage jobs. 

Who are low-wage workers?

• Nearly 30 million Americans, heading families that include 20 million children.
• Individuals in common occupations such as retail salespeople, security guards, education assistants, child-care workers, waitresses, cashiers, fast food cooks, bartenders, home health aides, housekeepers, and package handlers.
• 60% of low-wage workers are women.
• Nearly one-third of the female workforce works in low-wage employment compared with one-fifth of the male workforce. 
• Most workers in low wage jobs are adults; teenagers comprise only seven percent of the low-wage workforce.
• Over 20% of white workers, 30% of African-American workers, and 40% of Latino workers are members of the low-wage workforce.
• 40% of low-wage workers have a high school diploma, 38% percent have at least some postsecondary education, and 5% have a college degree.

What are the realities of low-wage work?

• One in four workers -- 30 million Americans -- earns less than $8.70 an hour ($16,704 per year), in jobs that provide few basic benefits such as health care, sick pay, disability pay, and paid vacation.
• Only one in three workers has paid sick time to care for their children.
• 77% of the lowest paid workers have no paid sick leave at all.
• A third of women who work full-time, year round earn less than $25,000 a year.
• 24 million American jobs - 1/5 of all jobs - cannot support a family of four above the poverty level.
• Low-wage jobs are expanding faster than other occupations in the U.S. economy. The top ten fastest growing occupations include retail clerks, cashiers, janitors and home health aides. 

What is our vision?

We envision a day when every woman who works full-time earns enough to afford the basics of life and care for her family. We believe that:

• All work is worthy of recognition and respect.
• All workers deserve fair compensation.
• All workers need time off that they can take without fear of retribution.
• All workers deserve respect for their home and family commitments.
• All people must have access to health care, regardless of what they do or where they work.

Our commitment to fair employment and economic security for all is rooted in the conviction that it is in everyone's interest to ensure that work is rewarded fairly and that every working family can afford the basics of life. The problem of low-wage work is a problem for all of us. It's time to work together and create a better future for all our families and communities.

Get involved. We can improve the economic future of women by ensuring that women earn enough to be economically self-sufficient and don’t have to choose between caring for their families and keeping their jobs. To find out more about Working Women for Change, contact Christina Warden at 312-782-3902, x228.