The U.S. differs from most other countries in how it sets its minimum wage
Putting minimum wage policy in the hands of lawmakers is one of several ways in which the U.S. approach stands apart from other countries.
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First-Generation College Graduates Lag Behind Their Peers on Key Economic Outcomes
College graduates without a college-educated parent have lower incomes and less wealth, on average, than those with a parent who has a bachelor’s or higher degree.
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Most Americans support a $15 federal minimum wage
About six-in-ten Americans (62%) say they favor raising the federal minimum wage to $15 an hour, including 40% who strongly back the idea.
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When it comes to raising the minimum wage, most of the action is in cities and states, not Congress
The $7.25 federal minimum wage is used in just 21 states, which collectively account for about 40% of all U.S. wage and salary workers.
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Racial and ethnic gaps in the U.S. persist on key demographic indicators
The charts below allow for comparisons between racial or ethnic groups over time on a range of measures including educational attainment, household income, life expectancy and others. You may select any two groups at a time for comparison.
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59% of U.S. parents with lower incomes say their child may face digital obstacles in schoolwork
38% of parents with children whose K-12 schools closed in the spring said that their child was likely to face digital obstacles in schoolwork.
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Majority of Americans who lost a job or wages due to COVID-19 concerned states will reopen too quickly
68% of those who have lost jobs or taken a pay cut due to COVID-19 are concerned that state governments will lift restrictions too quickly.
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6 facts about economic inequality in the U.S.
Over the past 50 years, the highest-earning 20% of U.S. households have steadily brought in a larger share of the country’s total income.
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Veteran households in U.S. are economically better off than those of non-veterans
U.S. military veterans and their families have consistently had higher standards of living than non-veterans over the past 40 years.
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Households headed by less-educated adults have seen significant income gains during U.S. recovery
Household incomes in the United States have rebounded from their 2012 bottom in the wake of the Great Recession. And for the most part, the typical incomes of households headed by less-educated adults as well as more-educated adults have increased.
