During the past two decades, globalization and the ever-expanding technology sector have created economic changes that have exacerbated existing poor working conditions and served to expand the wealth divide between lower and higher wage workers in this country and throughout the world. The persistence of the working poor is due in part to insufficient wages, few (if any) workplace benefits for low wage workers and their families, and the lack of asset accumulation among low wage earners. This topic page explores the challenges faced by low wage working families and offers solutions for improving their work conditions.
Updated: November 2009