Report Highlights Decline in Living Wage for Most Americans, Except Gen Z
A recent report reveals that a growing number of full-time workers in the United States are struggling to earn a living wage, with significant disparities across gender and racial lines. The analysis by Dayforce indicates that in 2025, only 50.7% of full-time workers earned a living wage, marking a decline of 5.1 percentage points since 2021. The report highlights that while most demographic groups have seen declines, Generation Z is an exception, with a 6.2 percentage point increase in the proportion earning a living wage. The findings also underscore persistent inequalities, with nearly 60.4% of white workers earning a living wage compared to 31.2% of Black workers and 33.3% of Latino workers. The report attributes these challenges to rising living costs that have outpaced wage growth. 
