Income and Work

March 2, 2015 by Ted Boettner
Let’s Not Go Backwards on Paying Social Workers

Last week, the State Senate passed a bill (SB 559) that would except DHHR social workers from the requirement to be licensed by the West Virginia Board of Social Work. According to the West Virginia Department of Health and Human Services, this bill aims to get more people to apply for positions within Child Protective…

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January 28, 2015 by Sean O'Leary
West Virginia’s Prevailing Wage: Good for Business, Good for Workers

Construction workers hired for public projects in West Virginia must be paid a minimum “prevailing” wage and benefits level. This prevailing wage level must equal the market wage rates as determined by the West Virginia Division of Labor, and varies by geographical area within the state and by occupation. West Virginia’s prevailing wage law was…

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January 6, 2015 by Sean O'Leary
Apples to Oranges: Comparing Prevailing Wage Rates

Earlier, I showed how it's nearly impossible for the prevailing wage to add 25% to the cost of public construction projects, like opponents to the law claim, even if you assume that the prevailing wage is nearly 50% higher than average wages in the construction sector. But let's take a closer look at that 50% claim.…

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December 16, 2014 by Ted Boettner
Is it a Good Time to Reduce Male Wages in West Virginia?

As the legislature considers repealing the state's prevailing wage for public construction projects, it is important to recognize that it could further depress wages. This is especially true for male workers, who typically hold over 90 percent of construction jobs. Since the late 1970s, male hourly wages have declined by more than $3 in West…

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October 22, 2014 by Sean O'Leary
Solving the Retirement Crisis in West Virginia

As thousands of West Virginians approach retirement age, workplace retirement plans, along with Social Security and personal savings, are of growing importance. A secure retirement allows retired workers to live independently, pay for healthcare, and continue to contribute to the state’s economy. Read PDF of the report. But in West Virginia, more than 349,000 workers,…

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July 28, 2014 by Sean O'Leary
Stemming the Retirement Crisis: West Virginia Voluntary Retirement Accounts

On July 22, 2014, Sean O'Leary and Ted Boettner from the West Virginia Center on Budget and Policy and Angela Vance from the WV-AARP presented the benefits of Voluntary Retirement Accounts (VERA) to the Our Children Our Future Policy Workshop in Clarksburg, WV. View the full presentation. Overview - The Retirement Problem Retirement Income Deficit…

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April 25, 2014 by WVCBP
West Virginia Needs a Healthy Workforce – Paid Sick Days Can Help

West Virginia is one of the least healthy states in the country. With the implementation of the ACA, roughly 270,000 more West Virginians have access to medical care. This increase in health care services is a huge step toward a healthy state, but access to medical care is only one piece of the puzzle. Every day…

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February 28, 2014 by Sean O'Leary
The Minimum Wage and Big Business

West Virginia's proposal to increase the state's minimum wage to $8.75 continues to work its way through the legislative process. We've looked before at the workers who would benefit from the increase, and we've also looked at how much it would cost the affected businesses. But now, let's take a closer look at businesses where are…

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February 21, 2014 by Sean O'Leary
Yes, Raising the Minimum Wage Helps Inequality

Today's Charleston Daily Mail includes an editorial in response to the EARN report on income inequality and our recommendation to raise the minimum wage as a tool to combat inequality. The Daily Mail contends that raising the minimum wage is a bad idea for two reasons: one, income inequality isn't all that bad because rich…

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