Working – and Still Falling Short: 1 in 2 Workers in LA’s Most Common Jobs Struggle to Get By
New research zeroes in on households living paycheck to paycheck, yet often with income that’s too high for assistance
Lake Charles, LA — In 2023, 44% of workers in Louisiana’s 20 most common jobs lived in households that could not afford basics, according to new data from United Way Southwest Louisiana and its research partner United For ALICE. These workers – the backbone of every community – include cooks (71%), personal care aides (65%), fast food/counter workers (63%), and food preparation workers (63%).
The State of ALICE in Louisiana reveals that traditional measures of poverty have severely undercounted the number of households in the region experiencing financial hardship. While 15% of all households in Southwest Louisiana lived in poverty in 2023, the new research shows that 31%, nearly twice as many, were ALICE® (Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed). Combined, 46% of Southwest Louisiana’s households fell below the ALICE Threshold of Financial Survival in 2023.
ALICE households earn less than the basic costs for housing, childcare, food, transportation, healthcare, technology, and taxes. However, because their income exceeds the Federal Poverty Level, they often do not qualify for assistance.
“When we underestimate how many households are struggling, we underestimate what it truly takes to build thriving communities,” said United Way Southwest Louisiana President and CEO Denise Durel. “This means families and essential workers may be overlooked for support, left without the resources to stay healthy, achieve financial stability and reach their fullest potential. That’s a loss not just for ALICE, but for all of us.”
The struggle for ALICE families is the gap between wages and expenses. In 2023, a family of four in Calcasieu Parish required $82,320 to cover the essentials, nearly 2.5 times the Federal Poverty Level of $30,000. Yet even with both parents working full time in two of the state’s most common jobs – a personal care aide and a stock worker/order filler – this family’s combined income still fell short of the cost of basics by $18,430.
The State of ALICE in Louisiana also reveals that in 2023:
- Louisiana has the highest financial hardship rate among all 50 states plus the District of Columbia, with the nation’s highest percentages of households struggling to make ends meet.
- Some groups face financial hardship at disproportionate rates, with 87% of single-female-headed households with children in Calcasieu Parish falling below the ALICE Threshold, compared to 16% of households headed by married couples with children.
- Housing remains a challenge for struggling families. Among households below the ALICE Threshold in Louisiana, 65% of renters are burdened by rent and housing costs, meaning they pay 30% or more of their income on these expenses.
United Way Southwest Louisiana is committed to raising awareness about the challenges faced by ALICE households through various outreach initiatives. This year, they hosted the inaugural ALICE Summit, a platform designed to educate the community about the financial struggles of essential workers. The organization encourages businesses and groups interested in learning more about ALICE and the importance of supporting these families to reach out for speaking engagements. By sharing this important information, United Way Southwest Louisiana hopes to foster understanding and collaboration in addressing the needs of the workers who are the backbone of our communities.
“ALICE families are especially vulnerable during natural disasters and economic uncertainty and yet often feel unseen or left behind,” said Stephanie Hoopes, Ph.D., National Director at United For ALICE. “By providing a name and a way to quantify these households, we’re equipping communities with the data to build solutions that offer better choices and real pathways to stability.”
More state and local data is available through the interactive dashboards on UnitedForALICE.org/Louisiana and unitedwayswla.org/alice.
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About United Way Southwest Louisiana
From strengthening local resilience to advancing healthy communities, youth opportunity and financial security, United Way Southwest Louisiana is mobilizing communities to take action so all can thrive.
UnitedWaySWLA.org
About United For ALICE
United For ALICE is a U.S. research organization driving innovation, research and action to improve life across the country for ALICE® (Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed) and for all. Through the development of the ALICE measurements, a comprehensive, unbiased picture of financial hardship has emerged. Harnessing this data and research on the mismatch between low-paying jobs and the cost of survival, ALICE partners convene, advocate and collaborate on solutions that promote financial stability at local, state and national levels. This grassroots ALICE movement, led by United Way of Northern New Jersey, has spread to 35 states and the District of Columbia and includes United Ways, corporations, nonprofits and foundations in Alabama, Arkansas, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawai‘i, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, Washington, Washington, D.C., West Virginia and Wisconsin; we are United For ALICE. For more information, visit: UnitedForALICE.org.