Comments on: Let Them Eat Cake http://liveunitedblog.org/2009/08/let-them-eat-cake/ Thu, 29 Jul 2010 16:26:55 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: Liz http://liveunitedblog.org/2009/08/let-them-eat-cake/comment-page-1/#comment-54 Liz Mon, 17 Aug 2009 19:55:57 +0000 http://liveunitedblog.org/?p=247#comment-54 Actually, that $22,500 figure is for current job openings in the state. The median wage (half pay more, half pay less) for all jobs currently vacant in Minnesota is $11.00/hour, which at 40 hours a week gets you to about $22,500 annually. The median wage for Minnesotans in the workforce is $17.09/hour, which comes to about $35,500 annually. About one-quarter of working Minnesotans earn $11.68/hour or less, putting their income well below $25,000. And 10% earn only $8.70/hour, which gives a full-time income of around $18,000. And just in case you think that doesn't amount to much, 10% of Minnesota's employed labor force is approximately 270,500 people. But you won't find many RNs in that group--their starting wages are around $24/hour and the median wage is $34/hour. Actually, that $22,500 figure is for current job openings in the state. The median wage (half pay more, half pay less) for all jobs currently vacant in Minnesota is $11.00/hour, which at 40 hours a week gets you to about $22,500 annually. The median wage for Minnesotans in the workforce is $17.09/hour, which comes to about $35,500 annually.

About one-quarter of working Minnesotans earn $11.68/hour or less, putting their income well below $25,000. And 10% earn only $8.70/hour, which gives a full-time income of around $18,000. And just in case you think that doesn’t amount to much, 10% of Minnesota’s employed labor force is approximately 270,500 people.

But you won’t find many RNs in that group–their starting wages are around $24/hour and the median wage is $34/hour.

]]> By: Mimi Daly Larson http://liveunitedblog.org/2009/08/let-them-eat-cake/comment-page-1/#comment-53 Mimi Daly Larson Mon, 17 Aug 2009 15:34:30 +0000 http://liveunitedblog.org/?p=247#comment-53 If the average cost of childcare is $11,000 per year, and half the jobs in Minnesota pay less than $22,500 per year, what is the incentive for some parents to work? The math is impossible. Imagine a single mother with two children who went back to school (through loans and scholarships) to get her nursing degree. I'm not sure what an entry level RN job pays these days, but I would imagine it just doesn't add up. Not everyone has grandparents or neighbors willing to care for their children for free. If the average cost of childcare is $11,000 per year, and half the jobs in Minnesota pay less than $22,500 per year, what is the incentive for some parents to work? The math is impossible. Imagine a single mother with two children who went back to school (through loans and scholarships) to get her nursing degree. I’m not sure what an entry level RN job pays these days, but I would imagine it just doesn’t add up. Not everyone has grandparents or neighbors willing to care for their children for free.

]]> By: Chad Brown http://liveunitedblog.org/2009/08/let-them-eat-cake/comment-page-1/#comment-52 Chad Brown Thu, 13 Aug 2009 20:35:29 +0000 http://liveunitedblog.org/?p=247#comment-52 I was at a restaurant recently and overheard a conversation from an individual talking about"those people" spending money on cell phone and cable television before buying their own health insurance. I began to think that some of these "electronic luxuries" are no longer frills. We need these tools to link to jobs, our bank accounts, our families, our world. Indeed, healthcare costs have risen, child care is a necessity in today's two-parent working families. I would challenge us to begin to think about how being wired into the internet via our phones and computers is a necessity as well in today's world. I was at a restaurant recently and overheard a conversation from an individual talking about”those people” spending money on cell phone and cable television before buying their own health insurance. I began to think that some of these “electronic luxuries” are no longer frills. We need these tools to link to jobs, our bank accounts, our families, our world.

Indeed, healthcare costs have risen, child care is a necessity in today’s two-parent working families. I would challenge us to begin to think about how being wired into the internet via our phones and computers is a necessity as well in today’s world.

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