Why Fast-Food Workers Spend Almost an Hour Just to Afford the Meals They Serve

Fast-food workers are facing a tough challenge: they often struggle to buy the very meals they prepare. A recent study reveals that these employees need to work about 46 minutes to afford a typical fast-food meal costing $11.56, while the average American needs only 21.2 minutes. This disparity highlights a serious issue—workers in the fast-food industry are grappling with wages that don’t keep up with living costs.

Sylvain Charlebois, a professor at Dalhousie University, explained, “This situation points to a wider economic issue. The affordability crisis affects everyone in the food sector, including those working in it.” With prices rising, many fast-food employees can’t even hope for a living wage.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median wage for food and beverage workers was $14.92 as of May 2024. In some cities, fast-food workers earn over 42% less than what they need to cover basic living expenses. In Fresno, California, for example, the gap is slightly better at 23%, but workers still need to clock over 50 hours a week just to scrape by.

Matt Schulz, Chief Consumer Finance Analyst at LendingTree, noted, “No one expects to get rich from fast-food wages. But it’s alarming that workers can’t even afford a basic standard of living.”

In response to rising labor costs, many fast-food chains are investing in automation, like kiosks, rather than raising wages. Kelly Beaton from the Food Institute noted, “Operators are pressed with thin profit margins. Paying workers more while also managing rising food costs is a complex issue.”

This situation links back to a new minimum wage law in California, set at $20 an hour for fast-food workers. While it aims to improve living standards, it also led some chains to raise prices or reduce staff hours, making it harder for workers to find enough shifts.

The bond between wage stagnation and rising living costs highlights a deep-rooted issue in the fast-food industry. As these workers strive to balance their pay with rising expenses, societal pressure mounts for better solutions that support both fair wages and economic sustainability in food service.

For more insights on wage trends and employment, consider the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

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