Did you know 90% of Americans live in a location where the #livingwage is more than $20/hour, but more than 40% of U.S. workers earn less than $15/hour? This means that working families across the country can’t meet their basic needs.

Biko Nagara is returning to Living Wage for Us as our Head of Standards. 🎉 Biko rejoins us from Textile Exchange, bringing deep experience across standards development, responsible business, and worker well-being. Please join us in welcoming Biko back. 💙

Capital & Main features Living Wage For Us, with insights from CEO Michelle Murray on the growing gap between wage growth and real affordability capitalandmain.com/dont-call…

20 states still align with the federal minimum wage of $7.25. That is the legal floor - not the cost of living. As housing, food, and healthcare rise, the gap widens. Understanding that gap is key to workforce stability and long-term performance.

Compensation is often treated as a line item, but it drives stability. When wages align with real living costs, workers gain consistency - and employers see stronger retention, lower absenteeism, and more reliable operations.

LW4US models 1.73 workers per family, grounded in labor force participation, unemployment, and part-time work, to reflect how households actually earn. visit livingwageforus.org to learn more.

42% of mothers are primary earners, and up to 49% are co-breadwinners. How earnings come together shapes how households meet the cost of living. #LivingWage #PayEquity #LW4US

A recent blog from Dr. Bronner’s, reflecting its work within the Purpose Pledge, highlights how organizations are approaching living wage commitments over time. Approaches may vary but the benchmark remains the same. Read: info.drbronner.com/all-one-b… Learn: livingwageforus.org/join/

📊 Even the highest minimum wages in the Country don’t always meet the cost of supporting a family. Tukwila, WA: • Min wage: $21.65 vs. • Living wage: $36.22 💡 A legal floor ≠ the real cost of living.

Household costs continue. Recent data shows employment declined by 92,000 in February. 💡 A living wage includes room for the unexpected.

Food is a daily, unavoidable cost 🛒 Prices are up 25%+ since 2019 and remain elevated. 💡 This is where affordability becomes real. Visit livingwageforus.org/get-cert… to learn more about food costs in your area.

In Gothamist, Living Wage For Us CEO Michelle Murray shares that living wage benchmarks reach ~$34/hr (commuting) and ~$40/hr (within NYC). Minimum wage ≠ living wage. gothamist.com/news/it-cant-s…

Living Wage housing isn't based on luxury rents. It uses HUD Fair Market Rent at the 40th percentile - what modest, standard housing actually costs. For families with 1–2 children, it assumes a 2-bedroom, adjusted with local ACS data. Real wages should reflect real rent costs.

Having a job does not always guarantee stable housing. Rent is the largest expense for most households, and when it rises faster than wages, even full-time workers can struggle. You can work full-time and still not afford housing; this is a gap living wages are meant to close.

Living wages are not one-size-fits-all. The real cost of living varies dramatically across communities, which means the wage required to support a family varies as well. That's why LW4US produces locally specific living wage standards grounded in real cost-of-living data.

Oil prices above $100 per barrel can ripple across the economy. ⛽ Higher fuel costs can influence commuting, heating, groceries, and the price of everyday goods - shaping the real cost of living for working families. 📊

We appreciate seeing our certified employers engaging with the broader conversation around living wages. ⭐ This thoughtful piece from Dr. Bronner’s connects living wages, supply chains, and sustainability. 🌍 🔗 Read more: info.drbronner.com/all-one-b…

Purpose Pledge launches at #ExpoWest 🌿 Living Wage For Us serves as Commitment Catalyst for fair compensation and living wage commitments — embedding economic benchmarking into purpose-led governance. #PurposePledge #LivingWage

Congratulations to Prime Content on becoming a Leading Living Wage Certified Employer!

As the year comes to a close, we pause to reflect on what truly sustains our communities: the people who show up every day to keep businesses running, families supported, and local economies strong.

“They thought they had made it. Now they can’t afford food.” A NYT article by Sarah Maslin Nir highlights the “missing middle.” This is the gap Living Wage For Us works with employers on daily, using county-level cost data. nytimes.com/2025/12/18/nyreg… #LivingWage #MissingMiddle