Living Wage Report
Beginning in 2016, The University of Scranton and The Institute set out to understand better what constitutes a living wage in Northeastern Pennsylvania (NEPA). The initial 2016 Living Wage report found that the federal minimum wage of $7.25 proved inadequate to enable families in the region to reach a living wage threshold where they can meet their “essential basic needs and live a modest but dignified life.”
Living Wage Report 2022 Update
The Living Wage Study 2022, a project of The Institute and The University of Scranton, seeks to understand better what constitutes a living wage in Northeastern Pennsylvania using the MIT Living Wage calculator, other national and regional data, and connecting this data with input from community agencies and insights from Catholic Social Teaching. A living wage, and the broader concept of family economic security, is defined as the wage rate at which a worker, employed on a full-time basis, can reach a standard of living that meets essential basic needs and allows the individual or family to live a modest but dignified life. The 2022 Report outlines the living wage threshold for various family compositions in NEPA and compares it to previous data, details the increases in costs of living, explains some of the major challenges facing those who fall below the living wage threshold, and especially highlights mitigating factors – in particular, racial disparities and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and related policies on economic security.
The 2022 Living Wage Report is a collaboration of The Institute and The University of Scranton (Office of Community and Government Relations, the Ellacuría Initiative and the Department of Political Science).
The 2022 Living Wage Report was released at a State of Scranton seminar on Nov. 29 from 11:30-1 pm. The 2022 updated reported can be accessed as a PDF document here that can be downloaded and shared.
Resources for 2022 Report:
2022 Report Overview Summary
University Press Release
Video: Living Wage Report 2022: Interviews
In The News
Please check back for additional website updates including video interviews for the 2022 Report.
In The News
Study Finds Wage Gap Widening In NEPA - Scranton Times-Tribune
Study Shows Living Wage For Families In NEPA Have Increased by 39% Since 2019 - Fox 56
Scranton Economic Forum Raises Discrimination Diversity Issues - Scranton Times-Tribune
Living Wage Report 2019 Update
The 2019 update to the Living Wage Report shed light on how conditions changed, as families in NEPA continued to confront severe economic challenges and poverty. While there were many families that fall below the standard measure of poverty – the federal poverty line – there were also many that work full-time but earn less than a living wage. Individuals and families lack economic security in both cases; but the latter found themselves in an ambiguous situation, which this report seeks to expand upon.
In order for families to meet basic needs, living wage data accounts for the estimated costs of several categories of household spending in NEPA today: food, childcare, medical care, housing, transportation, taxes, and other expenses. This 2019 report catalogues challenges posed by various cost increases and details how the living wage threshold has increased; it includes policy recommendations rooted in Catholic Social Teaching and updated to reflect changed over the three years from the original report in 2016 to the 2019 update.
Page Contents for 2019 Report:
Report Executive Summary
University Press Release
Living Wage Nov. 2019 Seminar Discussion Summary
Video: Remarks by Scott Pilarz, S.J. and special interviews with individuals who have experienced economic insecurity
Video: Interview with Heather
Video: Interview with Billie
Additional Resources
In The News
Related Information Resources
- ALICE (Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed) in Lackawanna County Report, United Way of Pennsylvania, 2017
- Catholic Charities USA Statements and Letters
- Institute for Public Policy and Economic Development, 2019 Indicators Report
- Lackawanna County Comprehensive Blight Strategy, Lackawanna County Land Bank and Neighborworks Northeastern Pennsylvania, December 2018
- Leading National Organizations in Housing, Health, Education, Civil Rights, and More Release Plan to Tackle America’s Affordable Housing Crisis, January 2019
- National Low Income Housing Coalition, Out of Reach 2019, Pennsylvania Data
- (Re)Building Downtown: A Guidebook for Revitalization, Smart Growth America, December 2015
- Poverty Listening Tour Report – PA State Senate
In The News
- Many in NEPA still struggling to earn living wage – Scranton Times Tribune
- Living Wage Study cited in report on Unemployment – Fox 56 News
Completed by students in Communication 224: News Writing taught by Dr. Kim Pavlick, Assistant Professor. Department of Communication.
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Scranton Man Helps Community To Achieve Dignified Life by Robert Bauer, Class of 2017
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United Neighborhood Center CEO Helps Thousands by Steven DePrimo, Class of 2018
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Called to Help Others by Dan Valentino, Class of 2017
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Scranton Sister Works with Those in Need by Shannon Bowen, Class of 2018
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Serving One Meal, and Smile at a Time by Emily Darcy, Class of 2017
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Jesse Ergott: Helping Homeowners, One Home at a Time by Jeffrey Paine, Class of 2018
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St. Joseph’s Center’s President: Steward of Service by Nick Wasnetsky, Class of 2017
Completed by students in PSYC 364: Psychology of Diversity taught by Dr. Jessica Nolan, Associate Professor, Department of Psychology.
- The Poor are Uneducated? by Shelby Karboski, Class of 2017
- The Poor are Depressed Alcoholics? by Christie Civil, Class of 2017
- The Poor are Lazy? by Melissa Lopez, Class of 2017
To achieve family economic security, a multi-pronged approach is required that involves economic and workforce development, government social safety net programs, and private charitable activities. The following recommendations reflect conclusions drawn from the data presented in this report and based on the advocacy efforts and policy positions of Catholic Charities USA and the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops' Poverty USA Initiative, illustrating the rich discussion of poverty, just wages, and economic justice present in Catholic Social Teaching.
To learn how you can take action in support of policies that promote a "living wage", please visit the Advocacy Corner.
View a letter from Bishop Bambera of the Diocese of Scranton
- Faculty Snapshot Op-eds:
- Dr. Will Cohen: "Living wage as matter of basic human dignity"
- Dr. Meghan Ashlin Rich: "Living wage critical to city’s revitalization"
- Dr. Jessica Nolan: "Kernels of truth yield bushels of stereotypes"
- Dr. Michael J. Jenkins and Dr. Ismail Onat: "Offset Crime's Impact on Disadvantaged"
- Dr. Linda Ledford Miller: "Melting Pot Stew's Language"
- Coverage of Living Wage Report and Events
- The Scranton Times-Tribune, Jon O'Connell: "Local income disparity widens"
- The Scranton Times-Tribune, Denise Allabaugh: "Governor proposes raising the minimum wage to $12 per hour"
- The Scranton Times-Tribune Op-ed, Kevin Quinn, S.J.: "Need for Living Wage Tests Community's Resolve"
- The Aquinas: "Living Wage Study Shows Poverty in Lackawanna County"
- Ignation Solidarity Network: "University of Scranton 'Living Wage' Study Reveals Lingering Income, Job and Social Service Challenges in N.E. Pennsylvania"
- Times Leader: "What is a 'living wage' in Luzerne and Lackawanna counties"
- Scranton Times Tribune: "Study: wages in region fall short of state average"
