Introduction
Barbara Ehrenreich details her experiences working low-paying jobs nationwide in her book “Nickel and Dimed: On (Not) Getting By in America”. In her chapter titled “Serving in Florida,” Ehrenreich describes her experience working as a waitress at two distinct Key West, Florida, restaurants. Due to the region’s low income and high housing prices, Ehrenreich still finds it challenging to make ends meet despite putting in long hours. She observes that many of her coworkers are in like circumstances, working numerous jobs and living in small spaces to pay the rent (Ehrenreich, 2020). Ehrenreich’s experiences serve as an example of the difficulties low-wage workers encounter in locating affordable accommodation.
Low Wage Jobs
The growing disparity between earnings and housing expenses is one of the primary reasons hindering the availability of affordable housing. In many areas of the country, especially regarding housing, incomes have not kept up with the rising cost of living. As a result, even people with full-time jobs could not afford necessities like housing, food, and medical care (Zonta, 2022). Those with low-paying employment may experience a domino effect due to this lack of affordable housing. Workers who cannot afford decent housing may be compelled to live in dangerous or congested conditions, which can harm their health and well-being (Zonta, 2022). Additionally, high housing costs can make it difficult for workers to save money or invest in their future, creating a cycle of poverty that is difficult to break.
Recognizing that the notion of working harder or honing job abilities in order to earn more money is only sometimes a practical solution for persons in low-wage occupations is crucial. The truth is that a lot of low-wage workers already put in a lot of overtime while frequently receiving little to no benefits or job security. Additionally, many low-wage workers cannot afford the luxury of investing in higher education or upgrading their professional skills, which may be expensive and time-consuming (Zonta, 2022). In addition, the low-wage job market is well-known for being insecure, with many employees dealing with erratic schedules and hours. Many of Ehrenreich’s coworkers were required to work numerous jobs in order to make ends meet, as she points out (Ehrenreich, 2020). Due to time and energy constraints, pursuing education or training may be difficult, which could result in higher-paying positions (Zonta, 2022). It can be challenging for low-wage workers to take time off to pursue educational or training opportunities because many of them do not have access to paid sick or vacation days.
Conclusion
The notion that low-wage workers are in this condition because they lack education or skills misses the structural causes of inequality and poverty. Who has access to decent jobs and inexpensive housing might depend on a variety of factors, including ethnicity, gender, and social status. In addition, despite the fact that many low-wage professions, including those in the service sector, are crucial to the economy, they are frequently underestimated and underpaid. Although increasing education and job skills are vital for raising incomes, low-wage workers often find it difficult to make these changes. It can be challenging for workers to find the time and finances to advance their abilities due to the sometimes unstable and unexpected nature of the low-wage employment market. Therefore, it is impossible to disregard the systemic causes of poverty and inequality. People need to adopt a holistic strategy that targets both the individual and institutional elements that lead to economic inequality in order to solve the problems of low-wage employment and housing affordability effectively.
Reference
Ehrenreich, B. (2020). Serving in Florida. In 50 Essays. Macmillan Learning.
Zonta, M. (2022). Expanding the supply of affordable housing for Low-Wage workers – center for American progress. Center for American Progress. Web.