Report: 35% of Arizona jobs 'bad'

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by Betty Beard - The Arizona Republic

Arizona has more lower-paying jobs and "economically insecure" families than national averages, says a study from the Center for Economic and Policy Research in Washington, D.C.

The new report calls 35 percent of jobs "bad" because they pay less than $17 an hour, or $34,000 a year, and offer no insurance or retirement plans. In a typical state, only 30 percent of the jobs are considered "bad."

And 26 percent of Arizonans are economically insecure because the earnings and income, including public support, fall below the standard basic family budget. In the typical state, 22 percent are economically insecure. The range is 11 percent in Maryland to 37 percent in New Mexico.

The median monthly income of economically insecure families is $1,538 in Arizona, $656 less than the standard basic budget needed.

About 22 percent of Arizona jobs are considered "good" because they pay at least $17 and offer benefits. That is less than the typical state, which has 25 percent "good" jobs. The rest of the jobs are in between because they offer some benefits.

The report relies mostly on 2001-03 data.

http://www.azcentral.com/business/articles...conomy0527.html

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My employer is moving over a thousand 'bad' jobs to the Phoenix area.

ETA: Although these jobs will have insurance and 401k... just low salaries (which makes the 401k pretty much useless)... we did move a few truly "bad" jobs out to the DFW area in 2006...

Edited May 27, 2008 by VJ Troll