Dr. Mary Gatta has updated her Economic Security report using 2022 data (the most recent available from national databases). She uses indices of living expenses that are realistic but do not include luxuries. Some key findings:
- A single worker needed to earn $36,101 annually, and a couple without children needed to earn $52,886 annually.
- A single parent with an infant needed to earn $57,127 a year, and a single parent
- with an infant, preschool and school-aged children needed $73,789 in income.
- For families with two earners, the household needed $85,007 if they had an infant and preschool aged child; and $80,028 if they had a preschool age and school aged child.
- A retired single Floridian who owned a home without a mortgage needed $21,828 in income, whereas that same individual needed $27,996 if they rented a home, and $33,120 if they had a mortgage on a home.
- For retired couples, the annual incomes needed to be higher to attain economic security. If a retired couple owned their home outright, they needed an annual income of $33,120. For couples who rented their home, they needed $39,156 and if they paid on a mortgage, they needed $44,280 a year in income
Gender and racial differences were noted:
- Fifty-eight percent of female full-time workers did not earn enough to be economically secure, as compared to 36% of male full-time workers.
- In 2022, 72% of White households were above economic security for their family type. In contrast, 56% of Hispanic households and 47% of Black households were above economic security.
Gatta notes that, in order to improve women’s economic security, the state of Florida needs to:
- Develop state and local programs to introduce young girls to higher-paying occupations to address occupational segregation that puts women into lower-paying jobs.
- Address childcare access and affordability to improve economic security especially for single mothers.
- Provide paid leave for all workers.
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AAUW Advocacy in Florida 