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SALT LAKE CITY — For many Utahns, staying afloat in an economy still in recovery mode is tough. That's clearly true for people working minimum wage jobs, as illustrated by some very interesting statistics.
KSL News met Kimberly Daniels Thursday, as she was visiting the offices of some of the city's low-income advocates. She was looking for help with an overdue utility bill, which is tough to pay on minimum wage.
"Right now I'm at $7.85 (an hour)," she said. "I started out at $7.25. But still, it's really hard."
Minimum wage hasn't kept pace with inflation, and that's been a big problem.
–Linda Hilton, Crossroads Urban Center
Daniels works full time at Deseret Industries. She and her husband find much of the money she makes goes to her $1,000-a-month rent.
"It is very difficult to get bills paid, rent paid, and stuff like that, with all three children and on minimum wage," Daniels said.
In 1950, the minimum wage was 75 cents an hour. Thirty years later, it rose to $3.10 an hour. Now, it's $7.25.
"Minimum wage hasn't kept pace with inflation, and that's been a big problem," said Linda Hilton, director of human outreach at Crossroads Urban Center.
Rents have risen astronomically. In 1950, a typical rent cost $42 a month. By 1980 it was $243. Now, the average two-bedroom apartment in Utah rents for $727 a month.
The price of gasoline has had a similar history. In 1950, it cost 25 cents a gallon. By 1980 it had risen to $1.20 per gallon. Today gas costs nearly $4 a gallon.
"If that job is a minimun wage job, (the worker) won't be able to make ends meet," Hilton said.
"My three children do not get a lot to go out and have fun (with), money-wise," Daniels said. "We do go to the park and stuff; but as (for) taking them to Lagoon, that's out of the question."
