Jobs Now Coalition, March 2010

How do we define a family-supporting wage? To answer this question JOBS NOW has created family budgets that measure the cost of meeting basic needs for food, housing, health care, clothing, transportation and child care. JOBS NOW defines a family-supporting wage as one that covers the cost of basic needs.

Our Cost of Living budgets are based on a “no-frills” standard of living. No money is included for debt payments or skills training. There is no entertainment budget, no restaurant meals, no vacation, and nothing for emergencies, retirement, or children’s education. There is no money for internet service or cable TV—only basic phone service. The basic needs standard falls short of what is usually called a middle-class standard of living.