Hidden Unemployment

poor's clothing expenses may be higher than the unemployed poor's because they must
purchase specific clothes or uniforms for their jobs. Also, because the working poor are
spending much of their time at work, they may not have the time to prepare their own
food. In this case, they may frequently resort to eating fast food, which is less healthful
and more expensive than home-prepared food.
Childcare
Working poor parents with young children, especially single parents, face significantly
more childcare-related obstacles than other people. Often, childcare costs can exceed a
low-wage earners' income, making work, especially in a job with no potential for
advancement, an economically illogical activity. However, some single parents are able
to rely on their social networks to provide free or below-market-cost childcare. There are
also some free childcare options provided by the government, such as the Head Start
Program. However, these free options are only available during certain hours, which
may limit parents' ability to take jobs that require late-night shifts.The U.S. "average"
seems to suggest that for one toddler, in full-time day care, on weekdays, the cost is
approximately $600.00 per month. But, that figure can rise to well over $1000.00 per
month in major metro areas, and fall to less than $350 in rural areas.The average cost
of center-based daycare in the United States is $11,666 per year ($972 a month), but
prices range from $3,582 to $18,773 a year ($300 to $1,564 monthly), according to the
National Association of Child Care Resource & Referral Agencies (NACCRRA).
Work Schedules
Many low-wage jobs force workers to accept irregular schedules. In fact, some
employers will not hire someone unless they have "open availability," which means
being available to work any time, any day. This makes it difficult for workers to arrange
for childcare and to take on a second job. In addition, working poor people's working
hours can fluctuate wildly from one week to the next, making it difficult for them to
budget effectively and save up money.
Multiple Jobs
Many low-wage workers have to work multiple jobs in order to make ends meet. In
1996, 6.2 percent of the workforce held two or more full- or part-time jobs. Most of these
people held two part-time jobs or one part-time job and one full-time job, but 4% of men
and 2% of women held two full-time jobs at the same time. This can be physically
exhausting and can often lead to short and long-term health problems.
Low-Status Work
Many low-wage service sector jobs require a great deal of customer service work.
Although not all customer service jobs are low-wage or low-status, many of them are.
Some argue that the low status nature of some jobs can have negative psychological
effects on workers, but others argue that low status workers come up with coping
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