Dignity of Work Institute

When full-time work doesn’t cover rent and groceries, the problem isn’t expectations, it’s the system.

We can build a future where full-time work means stability, not constant tradeoffs.

When full-time work doesn’t cover rent and groceries, the problem isn’t expectations, it’s the system.

We can build a future where full-time work means stability, not constant tradeoffs.

You feel it every time you shop: coffee, paper towels, and other basics cost more.
NPR tracked 114 everyday items and found nearly half got more expensive.

Something is wrong when full-time work still means worrying about groceries. Hard work should pay off.

There was a time when a full-time job meant you could afford a home, a car, and some stability.

Now prices have exploded, wages haven’t kept up, and Gen Z is told to lower expectations.

Hard work should still pay off.

We asked workers what it takes to feel middle class today. The answer: about $100K.

That’s not luxury – it’s housing, insurance, health care, and child care.

Most jobs don’t pay that. When costs soar and wages lag, “doing okay” still feels stressful.

A low unemployment rate doesn’t mean the job market is working for most people.

Many of us are feeling stuck — fewer openings, slower hiring, and rising costs that make every decision harder.

What do you think: is the job market getting tougher?

If we’re looking back at 2016, it’s worth naming one big difference: Life is far more expensive now.

Same work, less breathing room.

Hard work should pay off.

If most Americans can’t afford to live, the system is broken.

Hard work should pay off.

Source: @pbsnews.org

This is what it looks like when the economy doesn’t reward work.

Minimum wage was meant to cover the basics. Now even “average” pay barely keeps up.

Something’s broken when full-time work isn’t even enough.

New year. New job search. Same frustrations.

When job searches are filtered by AI instead of people, workers feel it — in lower pay and fewer real opportunities.

Hard work should pay off.

“Gen Z doesn’t want to work.” Nah. Companies don’t want to hire.

How are people surviving right now? That’s the question American workers are asking each other.

Gen Z isn’t skipping holiday shopping for fun. Rent, groceries, and student loans are taking the whole paycheck. The economy isn’t working for workers.

‘Things are pretty crappy.’ 1 in 4 US households are living paycheck to paycheck | CNN Business Austin H. can’t wait to buy a house and start a family. But right now, the 34-year-old is barely getting by.

1-in-4 Americans are living paycheck-to-paycheck. Wages up 1–2%. Prices up 3%. Debt is rising fast. People can’t keep up, no matter how hard they work. This is the economy people are actually living in.

Opinion | What Even Is a ‘Good’ Job?

A “good job” means fair pay, dignity, autonomy, and advancement. Only about 40 percent of U.S. workers have one today.

If we want to rebuild trust with working people, we need policies that create and sustain good jobs.

Yellow text on a dark background reads: “AMERICAN WORKERS ARE STRUGGLING TO FIND GOOD JOBS. TELL US: HOW IS THE JOB MARKET FOR YOU RIGHT NOW?” The Dignity of Work Institute logo appears at the bottom. The message invites viewers to share their experiences in a difficult job market.

How is the job market for you right now?

American workers deserve stability, dignity, and opportunity. They aren't finding it.

When people say “find a better job,” they ignore the reality:
- There aren’t many better jobs available.
- Companies are cutting, not hiring.
- The economy isn’t working for regular people.

A yellow background featuring three newspaper headlines: The Washington Post – “The nation’s largest employers are putting their workers on notice.” The Street – “Target layoffs sound warning on new disturbing trend.” The Wall Street Journal – “Why Companies Are No Longer Hanging On to Employees.” Below the headlines, text reads: “Massive layoffs are dominating the headlines this month.” The Dignity of Work Institute logo appears at the bottom.

Amazon just laid off nearly 14,000 people. Target cut about 8% of its corporate staff.

Some of the nation’s largest employers are shrinking while millions of Americans struggle to afford groceries, gas, and rent.

Bold yellow text on a dark background reads: “JUST GET A BETTER JOB? NOT IN THIS ECONOMY.” Below the text is the logo for The Dignity of Work Institute. The image conveys frustration about the current economy and lack of good job opportunities.

“Just get a better job”? Not in this economy.

Millions of Americans Are Becoming Economically Invisible Broad swaths of the workforce may no longer have the spending power to meaningfully affect the statistics.

Strong economy? Not for everyone.

Millions of working Americans are economically invisible—our wages are too low and our spending too small to even impact the data.

Yellow text on a dark background reads: “The economy isn’t working for workers.” At the bottom is the white logo of The Dignity of Work Institute.

It’s clear: the economy isn’t working for workers.

And now, with a government shutdown, even more families are being pushed into financial instability.

H/T @cbsmornings.bsky.social

A headline from The Hill reads: “‘Help with mortgage’ Google searches reach levels unseen since 2009.” Below, text reads: “We can’t afford our basic needs.” The background is yellow.

American workers can't afford our basic needs.

H/t @thehill.com

A tweet from More Perfect Union states: “The top 10% now hold 67.4% of all the wealth in the U.S. The bottom 50% hold 2.5%.” The words “top 10%” and “bottom 50%” are bolded, and “2.5%” is underlined in red. Below, text reads: “Wealth isn’t trickling down to workers.” The background is yellow.

The top 10% hold nearly 70% of all wealth, while working families are left behind.

Hard work isn’t paying off and wealth isn’t trickling down.

H/t @moreperfectunion.bsky.social

A screenshot of tweets from user @missmayn with commentary about the economy. The tweets say: Nursing homes are so expensive they bankrupt families, while nursing aides must use food banks. Daycare costs eat up paychecks while providers earn just $10/hr. College costs hundreds of thousands, leaving students in lifelong debt, while professors live in cars. Everything is astronomically expensive, yet little money goes to the workers providing the services. Below the tweets, text reads: “Hard work isn’t paying off.” The background is yellow.

Life is becoming unaffordable for most American workers.
Wages don’t match the cost of living.

H/t @missmayn.bsky.social

Yellow text on a dark background reads: “The government is shut down. What are workers thinking about?” At the bottom is a small white logo that says The Dignity of Work Institute with an illustration of the U.S. Capitol dome and a bird.

The government is shut down. What are workers thinking about?

Dark gray background with centered white text that reads: “American workers can’t keep up. When people can’t afford the basics, the economy isn’t working.” At the bottom is the logo for The Dignity of Work Institute featuring a bird perched on a lantern.

It’s time to put workers first.

Yellow background with a Statista bar chart titled: “Cost of Living Is the Biggest Challenge Americans Face.” The chart shows survey results of U.S. adults (ages 18–64) from June 10–July 17, 2025. Percentages of respondents citing major challenges in personal life include: Cost of living 49.1%, Physical health 26.3%, Mental health 26.0%, Work-life balance 25.8%, Political or social issues 22.7%, Age-related concerns 16.7%, Housing 16.6%, Career dissatisfaction or uncertainty 16.2%. Statista logo is in the bottom corner. The Dignity of Work Institute logo appears at the bottom of the graphic.

When people can’t afford the basics, the economy isn’t working.

Yellow background with two news headline screenshots. The top headline from CNN Business reads: “Double whammy for Americans: Inflation continues to rise as jobs outlook grows weaker,” by Alicia Wallace, updated September 11, 2025. The bottom headline from CBS News MoneyWatch reads: “CBS News price tracker shows how much food, gas, utility and housing costs are rising,” by John Kelly, Grace Manthey, and Taylor Johnston, updated September 11, 2025. The Dignity of Work Institute Logo appears at the bottom of the graphic.

📈 Food, gas, utilities, housing—all more expensive.
📉 The jobs outlook is weaker.

Workers can’t keep up. Nearly 1 in 2 Americans say the cost of living is their biggest challenge today.