Strengthening State Policies for Working Families
Latest Publication from WPFP
Overlooked and Underpaid: Number of Low-Income Working Families Increases to 10.2 Million
A new report from the Working Poor Families Project shows the number of low-income working families continues to increase as formerly middle class families fall below the low-income threshold due to pay cuts, reduction in work hours and involuntary part-time workers.
New data show that in 2010, 10.2 million U.S. working families were low-income, an increase for the third year in a row. Between 2007 and 2010, the share of working families who were low-income—earning less than 200 percent of the official poverty threshold—increased from 28 percent to 31 percent.
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the Brief (pdf)
Read the Press Release (pdf)
Strengthening Workplace Education Program Policies to Enable Low-Wage Workers' Advancement
Workplace education programs are designed to build basic reading, writing, math or English language skills for low-skill workers and are often connected to the jobs skills needed by employers who sponsor them. These programs use public-private partnerships to address the needs of employers, local and state economies, and low-income workers. This brief reviews the rationale for workplace education programs, highlights effective state programs, and makes program and policy recommendations for strong programs.
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the Policy Brief (pdf)
Millions of American breadwinners work hard to support their families. But, despite their determination and effort, many are mired in low-wage jobs that provide inadequate benefits and offer little opportunity for advancement and economic security. Compounding the problem are public policies that do not adequately prepare workers to advance to higher-skilled, higher-paying jobs or promote the creation of quality jobs. The future for these working families is laden with challenges.
The Working Poor Families Project (WPFP) was launched in 2002 by national philanthropic leaders who saw the need to strengthen state policies affecting these working families. The national initiative is now supported by the Annie E. Casey, Ford, Joyce and Kresge foundations. The WPFP focuses on the states because many of their policies and investments critically affect the lives of working families.
The WPFP began work in five states and after eight years is now active in 22 states and the District of Columbia. In each state the WPFP partners with one or more nonprofit organizations to strengthen state policies to better prepare America's working families for a more secure economic future.
Read the latest national report from WPFP
State Policy Accomplishments: Workforce Education and Skills DevelopmentRead 2011 State Policy Accomplishments: Workforce Education and Skills Development
Featured Publication from WPFP State Partner
Kentucky Center for Economic Policy:
The College Affordability Crunch in Kentucky: Meeting the Costs of College in an Era of Eroding State Support(November 2011)
Download the report (pdf)
