Nickel And Dimed

The plight of the working poor in America was highlighted December 20th on a national broadcast of The News Hour with Jim Lehrer. The feature, "Nickel and Dimed" followed an LA Works customer through her day, highlighting her hard work to achieve and maintain self-sufficiency. After completing specialized training provided through LA Works, this former welfare-recipient was able to leave cash assistance. However, she continues to work three jobs in an attempt to make a better life for her family.

Describing the American Dream as "being able to survive," this single mother of two discussed juggling bills and 70-hour work weeks. Comparing her struggles to those depicted in the play "Nickel and Dimed" (adapted by Joan Holden from the Barbara Ehrenreich book by the same name), news correspondent Jeffrey Kaye sensitively addressed issues faced by many LA Works participants. Struggles to find affordable housing, maintain health insurance coverage, carve out time with family, and create a career path during difficult economic times were all mentioned.

Economists interviewed in the piece offered two differing views of upward mobility within the current labor market. Ruth Milkman, Director of the Institute for Labor and Employment at the University of California, cited middle range jobs as "endangered species" while the low- and high-ends of the job spectrum continue to grow. Milkman contends that the situation is particularly difficult in a tougher economy. What was once a fairly clear career ladder, she observed, has dropped the middle rungs and morphed into an opportunity structure shaped more like an hour glass. Adrian Moore, Executive Director of the Reason Public Policy Institute, however, offered his view that the "ladder of progression" is not the way people move from low- to high-end jobs. Instead, he suggests career growth is gained through hard work, some education, developing specialized skills needed in the labor market, and effectively creating and using networks.

When asked what people should know about life for the growing number of Americans whose income lies at the bottom fifth of earnings, our LA Works star replied "That a lot of us work really, really hard just to make ends meet." Her plan for a better life and the next step forward includes working hard, refining her skills, networking through LA Works, and encouraging her children - through actions as well as words -- to focus on their education.

PBS Article...