Income inequality is bad for almost all of us, and yet we can’t seem to slow it down. According to former Secretary of Labor Robert Reich, we now have greater inequality in America than at any time since the Great Depression. Annual income for the bottom 50% is just $8,000 higher than it was 50 years ago, while income for the top 1% has surged by $800,000. Something isn’t right.

At Orange County Living Wage, we believe the work of addressing income inequality begins at home, with the involvement of locally owned, independent businesses. We partner with employers to create a more equitable, more sustainable local economy through a livable wage — one that allows a single, full-time job to sustain a full and dignified life. You can learn about our most up-to-date living wage standard here.

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