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Living Wage Report

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Families in Northeastern Pennsylvania confront severe economic challenges, including elevated levels of unemployment and extreme poverty. While there are many families that fall below the “official” measure of poverty — the federal poverty line — there are also many who work full-time but earn less than a living wage. Individuals and families lack economic security in both cases; but the latter find themselves in an ambiguous situation, which this report seeks to clarify.

To be classified as economically secure, a household must earn wages that allow its members to meet their “essential basic needs and live a modest but dignified life.” The living-wage threshold represents the amount of income required to achieve this standard of living. 

This living wage study was prepared by the Institute for Public Policy & Economic Development in partnership with Education for Justice and the Office of Community & Government Relations at The University of Scranton, and with additional collaboration from Campus Ministries’ Center for Service and Social Justice and the Department of Communication.

Page Contents:

Executive Summary
 Community Leader Profiles
Report Recommendations
Reflection Questions
In the News: Faculty Snapshots, Event Coverage & Background

 

 

 

 View the executive summary version online:


Community Leader Profiles: The Work of Scranton Area Social Service Agency Directors & How the Lack of a “Living Wage” Affects Their Clients

Completed by students in Communication 224: News Writing taught by Dr. Kim Pavlick, Assistant Professor. Department of Communication. 

Challenging Stereotypes: Student Reflections and Critical Analysis of Stereotypes of “the poor”

Completed by students in PSYC 364: Psychology of Diversity taught by Dr. Jessica Nolan, Associate Professor, Department of Psychology.

Recommendations

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

Reflection Questions

The Living Wage Report 2016 brings attention to the challenges confronting Northeastern Pennsylvania's working poor. The report calls for us to reflect on what we can and should do individually, communally, and as an institution of higher learning. As a result, Andrew Milewski, University of Scranton Class of 2013 and Education for Justice graduate assistant for fall 2016, developed a series of questions to help guide reflection in order to help us better understand how we may respond. Click here for the reflection questions.

In the News & Event Highlights

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