Dignity of Work Relates Directly to What It Pays
Working men (Photo by Levi Meir Clancy on Unsplash)
The labor force participation rate is the percentage of people aged 16 and older who are employed or actively looking for work. West Virginia’s LFP rate is 54.3%, the absolute worst in the nation. It’s not the availability of jobs in West Virginia that’s the problem, it is their attractiveness. One obvious way to increase the value and attractiveness of work is to raise the minimum wage, which has been stuck at $8.75 since 2016.
As examples of what is possible, the LFP rate in Virginia and Maryland ranked 13th and 19th respectively. Virginia’s minimum wage is $12.41, and Maryland’s is $15. By contrast, Kentucky’s minimum wage is the federal minimum of $7.25 and its LPF rate ranks 43rd, significantly below the median.
Low wage workers are no different than the rest of us. Each one evaluates the economic choices in front of them. For example, is it better to stay home and take care of the kids or to get a job? The Jefferson County Democratic Association supports making work more financially attractive so that the choice to work can be made more often.
Jobs are not just a source of income, they are also a source of identity and pride. We don’t just make money at work, we also make friendships that nurture us. These are socially desirable things we need more of in West Virginia, and we can get them by making work more dignified and attractive. It all starts with a higher minimum wage.
Employers benefit too when the minimum wage goes up. Higher wages help workers meet their basic needs and reduce financial stress, leading to improved morale and a more positive work environment. This decreases employee turnover, as workers are less likely to seek other jobs. Higher wages also lead to less absenteeism — workers are less likely to take time off due to financial hardship or stress. And better satisfied employees tend to be more productive, contributing to overall business success.
West Virginia minimum wage policy doesn’t value work. While the $8.75 minimum wage might have been acceptable when it was enacted in 2016, it isn’t any longer. In fact, because of inflation the purchasing power of $8.75 has declined each year. This is the same as if our state government reduced the minimum wage each year. Not only should the minimum wage be increased in West Virginia, we should index it to inflation going forward so this pattern is not repeated.
Both Democrats and Republicans want to see more West Virginians working. But the two parties approach this issue differently – like the difference between a stick and a carrot. Republicans tend to “poverty shame” low-income people and try to force more people into bad jobs by making public benefits harder to obtain unless they take them. Jefferson County Democrats want to attract more people to work through raising the minimum wage and making work more dignified. Doesn’t this make more sense?
