High Cost of Low Wages

The High Cost of Low Wages in Oregon

Written by: Bob Bussel, Ph.D.; Raahi Reddy, MA; Daniel Morris, Ph.D.; Ellen K. Scott, Ph.D. and Shauna Dyer, MS

Many Oregonians are working hard but not getting ahead, and families across Oregon are struggling to make ends meet. At the same time, the country’s largest corporations are reporting record profits. In the “High Cost of Low Wages,” we share new research about Oregon’s low-wage workers and document the impact their low-wage jobs have on their lives. We also provide new data on the costs of public assistance support for these workers and show how it represents a new form of corporate subsidy to the largest companies employing low-wage workers in the state.