Low-wage counties face locational disadvantages

摘要

Rural counties with the largest share of jobs in low-wage industries are typically less populated and more remote from urban centers. These Iocational attributes coincide with fewer job opportunities in industries, such as manufacturing, that typically pay high wages. Yet most of the difference between low-wage and other rural counties is rooted in lower wage scales across all industries. Although adults in low-wage counties have less education and labor force participation overall, the role playedby these forces varies by region. Low-wage employment exists in every corner of rural America and is a significant share of all rural jobs. Yet, the distribution of low-wage employment reflects strong geographic patterns. In some rural counties, low-wage work accounts for half of more of me available jobs, essentially creating a low-wage local economy. This article describes the demographic and economic attributes of 465 rural counties with the highest proportion of workers employed in low-paying industries (see box, "What Is a Low-Wage County?").