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April 5, 2012 (The Editor’s Desk is updated each business day.)

"Working poor" rate 7.2 percent in 2010

Poverty status of persons in the labor force for 27 weeks or more, 2007–2010
Characteristic 2007 2008 2009 2010

Total persons

146,567,000 147,838,000 147,902,000 146,859,000

In poverty

7,521,000 8,883,000 10,391,000 10,512,000

Working-poor rate (in percent)

5.1 6.0 7.0 7.2

These data are featured in the TED article, "Working poor" rate 7.2 percent in 2010.

 

Working-poor rate, by sex, work experience, and educational attainment, 2010
Characteristic Working-poor rate (1)

Total, people in the labor force for 27 or more weeks, 16 years and older

7.2%

Sex

 

Men

6.7

Women

7.6

Work experience

 

Usual full-time workers

4.2

Usual part-time workers

15.1

Did not work during the year

35.1

Educational attainment

 

Bachelor's degree and higher

2.1

Some college or associate's degree

6.4

High school graduates, no college

9.2

Less than high school

21.4

Footnotes:
(1) Number below the poverty level as a percent of the total in the labor force for 27 or more weeks.

These data are featured in the TED article, "Working poor" rate 7.2 percent in 2010.

 

 

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