NWI Times: “Despite Indiana’s reputation for having a low cost of living, working full time does not guarantee affordable housing for many Hoosiers in Indiana’s largest occupations”
CNBC: Indiana’s workforce earns an “F”, ranks 43rd in the nation
INDIANAPOLIS – The Indiana Democratic Party, the organization that advocates for the future of Indiana and its families, today shared more evidence showing how the Indiana Republican Party’s “work more for less” economy is stunting opportunity for Hoosier workers. A new report published in the NWI Times found that a Hoosier earning just one minimum wage job would have to clock-in about 74 hours of work just to afford rent. The amount doesn’t factor in additional cost of utilities like electricity or broadband, and Indiana is once again exposed as a state that only delivers low-paying jobs to its workforce. This report follows CNBC’s annual “Top States for Business” series delivering an “F” grade to Hoosier workers and a December study that found more “good jobs” left Indiana and came in under Indiana Republicans’ leadership.
The Indiana Republican Party’s “work more for less” economy is exactly why Indiana Democrats have hit the road to sell President Joe Biden’s American Jobs Plan to Hoosiers across the state. Under the Democrats’ statewide American Jobs Plan tour, voters have heard from leaders like Joe Donnelly, Baron Hill, Phil GiaQuinta, Terri Austin, Renee Pack, and Chris Campbell and their pitch on why Indiana needs the Jobs Plan and the opportunity to create a better future for Hoosier families. This means taking the American Rescue Plan’s $250 million state investment in broadband internet to the #NextLevel, creating good-paying jobs, and strengthening unions and the right to organize. Indiana Democrats are ready to deliver for Hoosiers once more, and it’ll be the American Jobs Plan that gets it done.
NWI Times: Wages not keeping up with rents
“‘Indiana has not prioritized creating affordable housing,’ said Andrew Bradley, policy director for Prosperity Indiana, which shared details of a recently released report under the headline, ‘Affordable Housing is Out of Reach in Indiana for Low-Wage Hoosier Workers.’”
“Hoosiers must now earn $13.43 per hour to afford a modest one-bedroom rental home or $16.57 per hour for two bedrooms without spending more than 30% of their income on housing costs, according to a summation of the new report provided by Prosperity Indiana. The typical Hoosier renter earns $14.58 per hour, which is $1.99 less than the hourly wage needed to afford a modest, two-bedroom unit.
A Hoosier being paid the federal minimum wage of $7.25 an hour — where it has remained stagnant since 2009 — must work nearly two full-time jobs or 74 hours a week to afford a modest, one-bedroom apartment or 91 hours per week for a two bedroom unit, the group says.” […]
“The report found that the median wage for 10 of the state’s top 20 largest occupations is below the stated two-bedroom housing wage, with six of those jobs paying less than what is needed for a one-bedroom unit, Prosperity Indiana said.
‘Despite Indiana’s reputation for having a low cost of living, working full time does not guarantee affordable housing for many Hoosiers in Indiana’s largest occupations,’ the group said.”
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