Does Working Full-Time Guarantee Hospital Service Workers’ Material Well-Being? A Latent Class Regression Analysis
About the Study: This study brings attention to the material hardships experienced by full-time, lower-wage hospital workers in the Greater Pittsburgh area who earn above the minimum wage—a group often overlooked in discussions of material well-being. By identifying two distinct material hardship groups and examining the factors contributing to their risks of facing multiple simultaneous hardships, the research reveals wages, health, race, and family circumstances as significant determinants, while showing that antipoverty programs do not effectively reduce these risks. The findings underscore the need for targeted policies, such as raising wages, expanding antipoverty initiatives, and improving access to essential services, to better support these workers.
Key Insights:
- Many lower-wage hospital workers face significant economic challenges despite working full-time and earning above the minimum wage, a problem that is often overlooked.
- The study identifies two distinct groups based on their level of material hardship: those who experience multiple hardships simultaneously and those who face fewer difficulties.
- Factors like pay, health, race and family size are associated with workers’ likelihood experiencing material hardship, while antipoverty programs show no significant influence on reducing workers’ risk of struggling.
- The study advocates for policies that raise wages, expand antipoverty initiatives, and improve access to healthcare and childcare services to better support lower-wage workers.