Living On Minimum Wage

Here's How 6 People Actually Live On The Minimum Wage
CAMDEN, NJ - OCTOBER 11: Men stand on a street on October 11, 2012 in Camden, New Jersey. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, Camden, New Jersey is now the most impoverished city in the United States with nearly 32,000 of Camden's residents living below the poverty line. Camden, which sits just over the bridge from more affluent Philadelphia, also has a chronic crime problem with 48 recorded homicides this year alone. A lack of jobs has been a feature of life in Camden since the city lost most of its manufacturing base in the late 60's and 1970's. While the state unemployment rate is about 9.9 percent, Camden's is estimated at 19 percent. (Photo by Spencer Platt/Getty Images)
CAMDEN, NJ - OCTOBER 11: Men stand on a street on October 11, 2012 in Camden, New Jersey. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, Camden, New Jersey is now the most impoverished city in the United States with nearly 32,000 of Camden's residents living below the poverty line. Camden, which sits just over the bridge from more affluent Philadelphia, also has a chronic crime problem with 48 recorded homicides this year alone. A lack of jobs has been a feature of life in Camden since the city lost most of its manufacturing base in the late 60's and 1970's. While the state unemployment rate is about 9.9 percent, Camden's is estimated at 19 percent. (Photo by Spencer Platt/Getty Images)

At least one part of the labor force has expanded significantly since the recession hit: the low-wage part, made up of burger flippers, home health aides and the like.

Put simply, the recession took middle-class jobs, and the recovery has replaced them with low-income ones, a trend that has exacerbated income inequality. According to Labor Department data, about 1.7 million workers earned the minimum wage or less in 2007. By 2011, the total had surged to 3.8 million, with millions of others earning just a few cents or dollars more.

Popular in the Community

Close

What's Hot