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Poor, 2009

I

n 2009, according to the Census Bureau, about 43.6 million 

people, or 14.3 percent of the Nation’s population, lived at 

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 Although the poor were 

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“working poor,” 1.5 million more than in 2008. The working poor 

are persons who spent at least 27 weeks in the labor force (that is, 

working or looking for work) but whose incomes still fell below 

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ratio of the working poor to all individuals in the labor force for 

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chart.) 

Following are additional highlights from the 2009 data: 

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persons in the labor force for 27 weeks or more, 4.2 

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x Black and Hispanic workers continued to be about twice 

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x 7KHOLNHOLKRRGRIEHLQJFODVVL¿HGDVZRUNLQJSRRUJUHDWO\

diminishes as workers attain higher levels of education. 

Among college graduates, 2.1 percent of those who were 

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working poor, compared with 20.3 percent of those with 

less than a high school diploma.

x Among families with at least one member in the labor 

force for 27 weeks or more, those families with children 

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their male counterparts to be among the working poor.

This report presents data on the relationship between labor force 

DFWLYLW\DQGSRYHUW\VWDWXVLQIRUZRUNHUVDQGWKHLUIDPLOLHV

U.S. Department of Labor

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statisitics

March 2011

Report 1027

Table A.3RYHUW\VWDWXVRISHRSOHDQGSULPDU\IDPLOLHVLQWKH 

ODERUIRUFHIRURUPRUHZHHNV 

(Numbers in thousands) 

 

 Characteristic 2006 2007 2008 2009

 

Total persons1

 ........................... 145,229 146,567 147,838 147,902

 In poverty ............................... 7,427 7,521 8,883 10,391

 Working-poor rate .................. 5.1 5.1 6.0 7.0

Unrelated individuals ................. 31,887 33,226 32,785 33,798

 In poverty ............................... 2,741 2,558 3,275 3,947

 Working-poor rate .................. 8.6 7.7 10.0 11.7

Primary families2

 ........................ 65,388 65,158 65,907 65,467

 In poverty ............................... 3,960 4,169 4,538 5,193

 Working-poor rate .................. 6.1 6.4 6.9 7.9

1

 Includes people in families, not shown separately. 

2

 Primary families with at least one member in the labor force for more 

than half the year. 

 

 NOTE: Updated population controls are introduced annually with the 

release of January data. 

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personal income is used as the determinant. Data were collected in 

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this report, see the technical note at the end of this report.) 

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Among those who were in the labor force for 27 weeks or more in 

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continued to be higher for women (7.5 percent) than for men (6.6 

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working men and women who spent at least 27 weeks or more in 

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men (14.2 percent) and women (13.6 percent) also were about the 

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percent) was higher than the rate for Black men (10.1 percent).

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other age groups, in part because their earnings are lower and 

1

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2010), on the Internet at http://www.census.gov/prod/2010pubs/p60-238.pdf. 

Errors were found in this report; data in table 4 were corrected. More information is at www.bls.gov/bls/errata/corrected-working-poor-data.htm.
2

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Percent

7

6

5

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1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007

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to 54 (4.7 percent), 55 to 64 (3.6 percent), and 65 and older (2.3 

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for 27 weeks or more in 2009, those with less than a high school 

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an associate’s degree and those with a bachelor’s degree or higher 

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women at all educational levels. For example, 22.0 percent of 

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poor, compared with 18.4 percent of their male counterparts. 

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male counterparts to be among the working poor: 31.8 percent 

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men and women with a bachelor’s degree or higher were similar, 

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Percent

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1987 1989 1991 1993 1995 1997 1999 2001 2003 2005 2007 2009

SOURCE: Annual Social and Economic Supplement, Current Population Survey (CPS), Bureau of Labor Statistics
3

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not require high levels of education and that are characterized 

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working poor. For example, 13.2 percent of service workers were 

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natural resources, construction, and maintenance occupations, 9.7 

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construction and extraction occupations were among the working 

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despite having at least one member in the labor force for half 

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Among families with at least one member in the labor force 

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3.1 percent for families without children. About 26.6 percent of 

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percent in 2008.

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million unrelated individuals who were in the labor force for half 

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teens who were in the labor force for 27 weeks or more and who 

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alone or with unrelated individuals was 12.0 percent, compared 

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rates for unrelated individuals were much higher for Blacks (15.1 

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each person’s resources. The pooling of resources and sharing of 

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those who participated in the labor force for 27 weeks or more and 

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There are three major labor market problems that can hinder a 

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time experienced at least one of the major labor market problems. 

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or in combination with other labor market problems. About 44 

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other problems, up from 38 percent in 2008. In 2009, 7 percent of 

the working poor experienced all three problems: low earnings, 

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The data presented in this report were collected in the Annual 

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The estimates in this report are based on a sample and, 

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obtained from a complete count using the same questionnaire 

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cases where the numbers are small. Thus, both small estimates 

and small differences between estimates should be interpreted 

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gov/hhes/www/income/income.html.

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without permission.

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(202) 691–6378.

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at http://www.bls.gov/cps/documentation.htm#pop.

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Health Insurance Coverage in the United States: 2009, online at 

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represented the average of the real value of the minimum wage 

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Labor force. Persons in the labor force are those who worked or 

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Table 1. 3HRSOHLQWKHODERUIRUFHSRYHUW\VWDWXVDQGZRUNH[SHULHQFHE\ZHHNVLQWKHODERUIRUFH

(Numbers in thousands)

Poverty status and work experience Total in the labor force

27 or more weeks in the labor force

Total 50 to 52 weeks

7RWDO

Total in labor force ................................................................................ 159,776 147,902 135,576

 Did not work during the year ............................................................... 5,847 3,926 3,477

 Worked during the year ...................................................................... 153,929 143,976 132,099

 Usual full-time workers ..................................................................... 120,538 116,695 110,049

 Usual part-time workers .................................................................... 33,391 27,281 22,050

 Involuntary part-time workers ......................................................... 10,979 9,678 8,379

 Voluntary part-time workers ............................................................ 22,412 17,603 13,671

$WRUDERYHSRYHUW\OHYHO

Total in labor force ................................................................................ 147,061 137,511 126,668

 Did not work during the year ............................................................... 3,793 2,549 2,264

 Worked during the year ...................................................................... 143,268 134,962 124,404

 Usual full-time workers ..................................................................... 114,954 111,764 105,755

 Usual part-time workers .................................................................... 28,314 23,198 18,650

 Involuntary part-time workers ......................................................... 8,327 7,417 6,368

 Voluntary part-time workers ............................................................ 19,987 15,781 12,281

%HORZSRYHUW\OHYHO

Total in labor force ................................................................................ 12,715 10,391 8,908

 Did not work during the year ............................................................... 2,054 1,377 1,213

 Worked during the year ...................................................................... 10,661 9,014 7,695

 Usual full-time workers ..................................................................... 5,583 4,931 4,294

 Usual part-time workers .................................................................... 5,077 4,083 3,401

 Involuntary part-time workers ......................................................... 2,652 2,261 2,011

 Voluntary part-time workers ............................................................ 2,426 1,822 1,390

5DWH1

Total in labor force ................................................................................ 8.0 7.0 6.6

 Did not work during the year ............................................................... 35.1 35.1 34.9

 Worked during the year ...................................................................... 6.9 6.3 5.8

 Usual full-time workers ..................................................................... 4.6 4.2 3.9

 Usual part-time workers .................................................................... 15.2 15.0 15.4

 Involuntary part-time workers ......................................................... 24.2 23.4 24.0

 Voluntary part-time workers ............................................................ 10.8 10.4 10.2

1 Number below the poverty level as a percent of the total in the labor force.

6
Table 2. 3HRSOHLQWKHODERUIRUFHIRURUPRUHZHHNVSRYHUW\VWDWXVE\DJHVH[UDFHDQG+LVSDQLFRU/DWLQR

HWKQLFLW\

(Numbers in thousands)

Age and sex Total White

Black or

African

American

Asian

Hispanic

or Latino

ethnicity

Below poverty level

Total White

Black or

African

American

Asian

Hispanic

or Latino

ethnicity

 Total, 16 years and older .................. 147,902 120,560 16,864 6,948 21,175 10,391 7,553 2,073 390 2,948

16 to 19 years ....................................... 3,749 3,127 423 85 642 476 346 98 17 101

20 to 24 years ....................................... 13,233 10,530 1,801 434 2,449 1,961 1,394 414 83 424

25 to 34 years ....................................... 32,465 25,625 4,185 1,701 6,146 3,004 2,127 647 79 967

35 to 44 years ....................................... 32,819 26,169 3,975 1,885 5,508 2,286 1,694 449 84 820

45 to 54 years ....................................... 35,671 29,403 3,927 1,633 4,040 1,680 1,215 329 77 447

55 to 64 years ....................................... 23,223 19,770 2,074 975 1,918 832 656 118 38 157

65 years and older ................................ 6,742 5,936 479 235 471 152 120 17 11 32

 Men, 16 years and older ................... 79,019 65,623 7,842 3,731 12,565 5,216 4,031 796 214 1,778

16 to 19 years ....................................... 1,891 1,573 212 53 357 182 135 33 10 54

20 to 24 years ....................................... 6,917 5,607 830 231 1,428 879 654 151 40 242

25 to 34 years ....................................... 17,812 14,383 1,995 926 3,840 1,526 1,185 233 39 614

35 to 44 years ....................................... 17,924 14,652 1,834 1,016 3,363 1,241 988 173 47 528

45 to 54 years ....................................... 18,689 15,673 1,811 845 2,260 885 658 154 47 237

55 to 64 years ....................................... 12,087 10,429 943 519 1,046 421 347 44 21 87

65 years and older ................................ 3,700 3,306 218 141 271 81 64 7 9 17

 Women, 16 years and older ............. 68,883 54,937 9,022 3,217 8,610 5,176 3,522 1,277 176 1,170

16 to 19 years ....................................... 1,858 1,554 211 32 286 293 211 65 7 47

20 to 24 years ....................................... 6,316 4,923 970 204 1,021 1,082 739 263 43 183

25 to 34 years ....................................... 14,653 11,243 2,190 775 2,307 1,479 943 414 41 354

35 to 44 years ....................................... 14,895 11,517 2,142 869 2,145 1,045 706 276 37 292

45 to 54 years ....................................... 16,982 13,729 2,116 788 1,779 795 557 175 30 210

55 to 64 years ....................................... 11,136 9,341 1,131 456 872 410 309 74 17 69

65 years and older ................................ 3,042 2,630 261 94 200 71 56 9 – 16

Age and sex

Rate1

Total White

Black or

African

American

Asian

Hispanic or

Latino

ethnicity

 Total, 16 years and older .................. 7.0 6.3 12.3 5.6 13.9

16 to 19 years ....................................... 12.7 11.1 23.2 19.8 15.8

20 to 24 years ....................................... 14.8 13.2 23.0 19.1 17.3

25 to 34 years ....................................... 9.3 8.3 15.5 4.7 15.7

35 to 44 years ....................................... 7.0 6.5 11.3 4.5 14.9

45 to 54 years ....................................... 4.7 4.1 8.4 4.7 11.1

55 to 64 years ....................................... 3.6 3.3 5.7 3.9 8.2

65 years and older ................................ 2.3 2.0 3.5 4.7 6.9

 Men, 16 years and older ................... 6.6 6.1 10.1 5.7 14.2

16 to 19 years ....................................... 9.7 8.6 15.6 2 ( ) 15.2

20 to 24 years ....................................... 12.7 11.7 18.2 17.4 16.9

25 to 34 years ....................................... 8.6 8.2 11.7 4.2 16.0

35 to 44 years ....................................... 6.9 6.7 9.4 4.6 15.7

45 to 54 years ....................................... 4.7 4.2 8.5 5.6 10.5

55 to 64 years ....................................... 3.5 3.3 4.7 4.0 8.3

65 years and older ................................ 2.2 1.9 3.4 6.7 6.2

 Women, 16 years and older ............. 7.5 6.4 14.2 5.5 13.6

16 to 19 years ....................................... 15.8 13.6 30.9 2 ( ) 16.4

20 to 24 years ....................................... 17.1 15.0 27.1 21.0 17.9

25 to 34 years ....................................... 10.1 8.4 18.9 5.2 15.3

35 to 44 years ....................................... 7.0 6.1 12.9 4.3 13.6

45 to 54 years ....................................... 4.7 4.1 8.3 3.8 11.8

55 to 64 years ....................................... 3.7 3.3 6.5 3.8 8.0

65 years and older ................................ 2.3 2.1 3.5 1.7 7.8

1 Number below the poverty level as a percent of the total in the

labor force for 27 or more weeks. 2 Data not shown where base is less than 80,000.

 NOTE: Estimates for the race groups shown (White, Black or

African American, and Asian) do not sum to totals because data are

not presented for all races. Persons whose ethnicity is identified as

Hispanic or Latino may be of any race. Dash represents or rounds to

zero.

7
Table 3. 3HRSOHLQWKHODERUIRUFHIRURUPRUHZHHNVSRYHUW\VWDWXVE\HGXFDWLRQDODWWDLQPHQWUDFH+LVSDQLFRU/DWLQR

HWKQLFLW\DQGVH[

(Numbers in thousands)

Educational attainment, race, and 

Hispanic or Latino ethnicity Total Men Women

Below poverty level Rate1

Total Men Women Total Men Women

 Total, 16 years and older ......................... 147,902 79,019 68,883 10,391 5,216 5,176 7.0 6.6 7.5

Less than a high school diploma ................ 14,448 9,103 5,345 2,927 1,701 1,226 20.3 18.7 22.9

 Less than 1 year of high school ............... 4,497 2,998 1,499 1,091 735 356 24.3 24.5 23.8

 1–3 years of high school .......................... 8,159 4,935 3,223 1,525 779 746 18.7 15.8 23.1

 4 years of high school, no diploma .......... 1,792 1,170 623 311 187 124 17.3 16.0 19.9

High school graduates, no college2 ............ 43,585 24,920 18,666 3,816 1,904 1,912 8.8 7.6 10.2

Some college or associate’s degree ........... 42,680 20,798 21,883 2,668 1,124 1,544 6.3 5.4 7.1

 Some college, no degree ......................... 28,224 14,254 13,970 1,993 866 1,127 7.1 6.1 8.1

 Associate’s degree .................................. 14,456 6,543 7,913 675 258 417 4.7 3.9 5.3

Bachelor’s degree and higher3 ................... 47,189 24,199 22,990 980 487 493 2.1 2.0 2.1

 White, 16 years and older ........................ 120,560 65,623 54,937 7,553 4,031 3,522 6.3 6.1 6.4

Less than a high school diploma ................ 11,778 7,610 4,169 2,318 1,403 915 19.7 18.4 22.0

 Less than 1 year of high school ............... 3,898 2,685 1,213 978 663 315 25.1 24.7 26.0

 1–3 years of high school .......................... 6,517 4,026 2,491 1,119 597 522 17.2 14.8 21.0

 4 years of high school, no diploma .......... 1,363 899 465 221 143 78 16.2 15.9 16.9

High school graduates, no college2 ............ 35,214 20,500 14,714 2,625 1,397 1,228 7.5 6.8 8.3

Some college or associate’s degree ........... 34,652 17,246 17,406 1,874 863 1,010 5.4 5.0 5.8

 Some college, no degree ......................... 22,760 11,748 11,013 1,419 664 755 6.2 5.7 6.9

 Associate’s degree .................................. 11,892 5,498 6,394 455 199 255 3.8 3.6 4.0

Bachelor’s degree and higher3 ................... 38,916 20,268 18,648 736 368 369 1.9 1.8 2.0

 Black or African American, 16 years and

older ..................................................... 16,864 7,842 9,022 2,073 796 1,277 12.3 10.1 14.2

Less than a high school diploma ................ 1,734 946 788 463 213 250 26.7 22.5 31.8

 Less than 1 year of high school ............... 255 136 120 67 39 28 26.4 29.0 23.5

 1–3 years of high school .......................... 1,188 631 557 323 140 183 27.2 22.2 32.8

 4 years of high school, no diploma .......... 291 179 111 73 33 40 25.1 18.6 35.5

High school graduates, no college2 ............ 5,935 3,125 2,810 922 377 544 15.5 12.1 19.4

Some college or associate’s degree ........... 5,502 2,282 3,220 568 157 411 10.3 6.9 12.7

 Some college, no degree ......................... 3,832 1,672 2,160 414 125 289 10.8 7.5 13.4

 Associate’s degree .................................. 1,670 610 1,060 154 32 122 9.2 5.3 11.5

Bachelor’s degree and higher3 ................... 3,693 1,489 2,204 120 48 72 3.2 3.2 3.3

 Asian, 16 years and older ........................ 6,948 3,731 3,217 390 214 176 5.6 5.7 5.5

Less than a high school diploma ................ 484 260 224 62 42 20 12.7 16.0 8.9

 Less than 1 year of high school ............... 209 94 115 34 26 8 16.3 27.3 7.3

 1–3 years of high school .......................... 178 101 77 19 9 10 10.8 9.3 12.7

 4 years of high school, no diploma .......... 97 65 32 8 7 2 4 ( ) 4 ( ) 4 ( )

High school graduates, no college2 ............ 1,348 685 663 116 58 58 8.6 8.5 8.7

Some college or associate’s degree ........... 1,304 690 614 106 51 55 8.1 7.4 9.0

 Some college, no degree ......................... 772 420 351 79 38 41 10.2 9.0 11.6

 Associate’s degree .................................. 532 269 263 28 13 14 5.2 4.9 5.5

Bachelor’s degree and higher3 ................... 3,812 2,096 1,716 106 63 43 2.8 3.0 2.5

 Hispanic or Latino ethnicity, 16 years and

older ...................................................... 21,175 12,565 8,610 2,948 1,778 1,170 13.9 14.2 13.6

Less than a high school diploma ................ 6,612 4,495 2,117 1,527 1,003 524 23.1 22.3 24.7

 Less than 1 year of high school ............... 3,288 2,268 1,019 863 593 270 26.3 26.2 26.5

 1–3 years of high school .......................... 2,645 1,732 913 527 301 226 19.9 17.4 24.8

 4 years of high school, no diploma .......... 680 495 185 137 110 28 20.2 22.2 15.0

High school graduates, no college2 ............ 6,687 4,106 2,582 883 509 373 13.2 12.4 14.5

Some college or associate’s degree ........... 4,867 2,442 2,425 429 207 223 8.8 8.5 9.2

 Some college, no degree ......................... 3,408 1,780 1,628 322 165 156 9.4 9.3 9.6

 Associate’s degree .................................. 1,459 662 797 108 41 67 7.4 6.2 8.4

Bachelor’s degree and higher3 ................... 3,008 1,522 1,486 109 59 50 3.6 3.9 3.3

1 Number below the poverty level as a percent of the total in the labor

force for 27 or more weeks. 2 Includes people with a high school diploma or equivalent. 3 Includes people with bachelor’s, master’s, professional, and 

doctoral degrees.

4 Data not shown where base is less than 80,000.

 NOTE: Estimates for the race groups shown (White, Black or African

American, and Asian) do not sum to totals because data are not presented

for all races. Persons whose ethnicity is identified as Hispanic or Latino may

be of any race.

8
Table 4. People in the labor force for 27 weeks or more who worked during the year: poverty status by occupation of longest job

held, race, Hispanic or Latino ethnicity, and gender, 2009

(Numbers in thousands)

Occupation, race, and Hispanic or Latino ethnicity Total Men Women

Below poverty level Rate1

Total Men Women Total Men Women

 Total, 16 years and older2 .......................................... 143,976 76,604 67,372 9,016 4,410 4,606 6.3 5.8 6.8

 Management, professional, and related occupations .... 52,477 25,596 26,882 1,093 504 589 2.1 2.0 2.2

 Management, business, and financial operations

occupations .............................................................. 21,530 12,435 9,095 470 279 191 2.2 2.2 2.1

 Professional and related occupations .......................... 30,948 13,161 17,787 623 225 398 2.0 1.7 2.2

 Service occupations ...................................................... 24,991 10,757 14,234 3,239 1,113 2,126 13.0 10.3 14.9

 Sales and office occupations ......................................... 34,671 12,700 21,970 2,071 620 1,451 6.0 4.9 6.6

 Sales and related occupations .................................... 16,026 7,881 8,144 1,301 412 889 8.1 5.2 10.9

 Office and administrative support occupations ............ 18,645 4,819 13,826 770 208 562 4.1 4.3 4.1

 Natural resources, construction, and maintenance

occupations .............................................................. 14,812 14,113 699 1,367 1,292 74 9.2 9.2 10.7

 Farming, fishing, and forestry occupations .................. 1,118 830 287 193 148 45 17.3 17.8 15.8

 Construction and extraction occupations ..................... 8,509 8,293 216 957 931 26 11.2 11.2 12.1

 Installation, maintenance, and repair occupations ...... 5,185 4,990 195 217 214 3 4.2 4.3 1.4

 Production, transportation, and material-moving

occupations .............................................................. 16,896 13,332 3,564 1,243 880 363 7.4 6.6 10.2

 Production occupations ............................................... 8,373 6,121 2,251 549 346 204 6.6 5.6 9.0

 Transportation and material-moving occupations ........ 8,523 7,211 1,313 693 534 159 8.1 7.4 12.2

 White, 16 years and older2 ......................................... 117,920 63,962 53,957 6,725 3,512 3,212 5.7 5.5 6.0

 Management, professional, and related occupations .... 43,848 21,809 22,038 865 433 432 2.0 2.0 2.0

 Management, business, and financial operations

occupations .............................................................. 18,594 11,020 7,574 394 246 148 2.1 2.2 2.0

 Professional and related occupations .......................... 25,254 10,789 14,464 471 187 284 1.9 1.7 2.0

 Service occupations ...................................................... 19,116 8,404 10,711 2,306 834 1,472 12.1 9.9 13.7

 Sales and office occupations ......................................... 28,395 10,449 17,946 1,429 453 977 5.0 4.3 5.4

 Sales and related occupations .................................... 13,298 6,750 6,548 886 303 583 6.7 4.5 8.9

 Office and administrative support occupations ............ 15,097 3,700 11,398 544 150 394 3.6 4.0 3.5

 Natural resources, construction, and maintenance

occupations .............................................................. 13,151 12,552 600 1,191 1,131 60 9.1 9.0 10.0

 Farming, fishing, and forestry occupations .................. 1,010 751 259 176 137 39 17.4 18.2 15.2

 Construction and extraction occupations ..................... 7,652 7,465 186 839 819 20 11.0 11.0 10.8

 Installation, maintenance, and repair occupations ...... 4,490 4,336 154 176 176 1 3.9 4.0 .4

 Production, transportation, and material-moving

occupations .............................................................. 13,312 10,668 2,644 931 662 269 7.0 6.2 10.2

 Production occupations ............................................... 6,720 5,052 1,668 423 266 158 6.3 5.3 9.5

 Transportation and material-moving occupations ........ 6,592 5,617 976 508 396 112 7.7 7.1 11.4

 Black or African American, 16 years and older2 ......... 15,863 7,252 8,612 1,601 556 1,045 10.1 7.7 12.1

 Management, professional, and related occupations .... 4,429 1,595 2,834 147 32 115 3.3 2.0 4.1

 Management, business, and financial operations

occupations .............................................................. 1,533 660 873 49 15 34 3.2 2.3 3.9

 Professional and related occupations .......................... 2,896 935 1,961 98 17 82 3.4 1.8 4.2

 Service occupations ...................................................... 3,890 1,456 2,434 673 175 498 17.3 12.0 20.5

 Sales and office occupations ......................................... 4,035 1,367 2,668 455 97 358 11.3 7.1 13.4

 Sales and related occupations .................................... 1,634 634 1,000 285 54 230 17.4 8.6 23.0

 Office and administrative support occupations ............ 2,401 733 1,668 171 42 128 7.1 5.8 7.7

 Natural resources, construction, and maintenance

occupations .............................................................. 996 926 70 119 106 14 12.0 11.4 3 ( )

 Farming, fishing, and forestry occupations .................. 63 45 18 13 8 5 3 ( ) 3 ( ) 3 ( )

 Construction and extraction occupations ..................... 504 479 25 78 71 6 15.4 14.9 3 ( )

 Installation, maintenance, and repair occupations ...... 429 402 27 29 27 2 6.7 6.6 3 ( )

 Production, transportation, and material-moving

occupations .............................................................. 2,500 1,898 602 205 145 60 8.2 7.6 10.0

 Production occupations ............................................... 1,022 685 338 77 52 24 7.5 7.6 7.2

 Transportation and material-moving occupations ........ 1,477 1,213 264 128 93 36 8.7 7.6 13.5

See footnotes at end of table.

9

This revised table corrects errors in data by occupation. More information is at www.bls.gov/bls/errata/corrected-working-poor-data.htm. 
Table 4. People in the labor force for 27 weeks or more who worked during the year: poverty status by occupation of longest job

held, race, Hispanic or Latino ethnicity, and gender, 2009 — Continued

(Numbers in thousands)

Occupation, race, and Hispanic or Latino ethnicity Total Men Women

Below poverty level Rate1

Total Men Women Total Men Women

 Asian, 16 years and older2 ......................................... 6,793 3,646 3,147 356 196 161 5.2 5.4 5.1

 Management, professional, and related occupations .... 3,215 1,756 1,459 54 28 26 1.7 1.6 1.8

 Management, business, and financial operations

occupations .............................................................. 1,060 592 468 19 13 6 1.8 2.2 1.3

 Professional and related occupations .......................... 2,155 1,164 991 35 15 20 1.6 1.3 2.0

 Service occupations ...................................................... 1,245 558 687 134 60 74 10.7 10.7 10.8

 Sales and office occupations ......................................... 1,400 618 782 98 51 47 7.0 8.3 6.1

 Sales and related occupations .................................... 726 363 363 83 45 38 11.5 12.4 10.6

 Office and administrative support occupations ............ 674 255 419 15 6 9 2.2 2.4 2.1

 Natural resources, construction, and maintenance

occupations .............................................................. 295 282 13 23 23 – 7.6 8.0 3 ( )

 Farming, fishing, and forestry occupations .................. 16 12 4 2 2 – 3 ( ) 3 ( ) 3 ( )

 Construction and extraction occupations ..................... 127 125 2 17 17 – 13.4 13.6 3 ( )

 Installation, maintenance, and repair occupations ...... 152 145 7 3 3 – 2.2 2.3 3 ( )

 Production, transportation, and material-moving

occupations .............................................................. 637 432 205 47 34 14 7.5 7.8 6.6

 Production occupations ............................................... 438 261 178 21 12 8 4.7 4.8 4.7

 Transportation and material-moving occupations ........ 198 171 28 27 21 5 13.4 12.5 3 ( )

 Hispanic or Latino ethnicity, 16 years and older2 ....... 20,554 12,171 8,383 2,696 1,627 1,070 13.1 13.4 12.8

 Management, professional, and related occupations .... 3,735 1,791 1,945 176 84 93 4.7 4.7 4.8

 Management, business, and financial operations

occupations .............................................................. 1,634 910 724 73 43 30 4.5 4.7 4.1

 Professional and related occupations .......................... 2,102 881 1,221 103 40 63 4.9 4.6 5.1

 Service occupations ...................................................... 5,400 2,624 2,776 964 434 530 17.8 16.5 19.1

 Sales and office occupations ......................................... 4,327 1,643 2,684 393 123 270 9.1 7.5 10.1

 Sales and related occupations .................................... 1,872 874 998 230 82 148 12.3 9.3 14.9

 Office and administrative support occupations ............ 2,455 769 1,686 163 41 122 6.6 5.3 7.2

 Natural resources, construction, and maintenance

occupations .............................................................. 3,539 3,381 158 699 665 35 19.8 19.7 21.9

 Farming, fishing, and forestry occupations .................. 465 354 111 130 101 29 27.9 28.6 25.9

 Construction and extraction occupations ..................... 2,364 2,337 27 502 496 5 21.2 21.2 3 ( )

 Installation, maintenance, and repair occupations ...... 709 690 19 68 67 1 9.6 9.7 3 ( )

 Production, transportation, and material-moving

occupations .............................................................. 3,533 2,716 817 465 322 143 13.2 11.8 17.5

 Production occupations ............................................... 1,815 1,293 522 213 134 79 11.7 10.4 15.2

 Transportation and material-moving occupations ........ 1,718 1,424 294 252 188 64 14.6 13.2 21.7

1 Number below the poverty level as a percent of the total in the labor

force for 27 weeks or more who worked during the year. 2 Includes the long-term unemployed with no previous work experience

and a small number of people whose last job was in the Armed Forces. 3 Data not shown where base is less than 80,000.

 Note: Estimates for the race groups shown (White, Black or African

American, and Asian) do not sum to totals because data are not presented

for all races. People whose ethnicity is identified as Hispanic or Latino may

be of any race. Dash represents or rounds to zero.

 Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. 

10
Table 5. 3ULPDU\IDPLOLHVSRYHUW\VWDWXVSUHVHQFHRIUHODWHGFKLOGUHQDQGZRUNH[SHULHQFHRIIDPLO\PHPEHUV

LQWKHODERUIRUFHIRURUPRUHZHHNV

(Numbers in thousands)

Characteristic Total families At or above

poverty level

Below poverty

level Rate1

 Total primary families ................................................ 65,467 60,274 5,193 7.9

With related children under 18 years ................................ 35,415 31,151 4,264 12.0

Without children ................................................................ 30,052 29,124 929 3.1

With one member in the labor force .................................. 27,234 22,989 4,245 15.6

With two or more members in the labor force ................... 38,233 37,286 947 2.5

 With two members .......................................................... 32,038 31,200 838 2.6

 With three or more members .......................................... 6,194 6,085 109 1.8

 Married-couple families ............................................. 49,012 46,765 2,247 4.6

With related children under 18 years ................................ 25,205 23,443 1,762 7.0

Without children ................................................................ 23,807 23,322 484 2.0

With one member in the labor force .................................. 16,016 14,371 1,646 10.3

 Husband .......................................................................... 11,323 10,054 1,269 11.2

 Wife ................................................................................. 4,028 3,718 310 7.7

 Relative ........................................................................... 665 598 67 10.1

With two or more members in the labor force ................... 32,996 32,394 601 1.8

 With two members .......................................................... 27,856 27,325 532 1.9

 With three or more members .......................................... 5,140 5,070 70 1.4

 Families maintained by women ................................. 11,643 9,298 2,345 20.1

With related children under 18 years ................................ 7,702 5,656 2,046 26.6

Without children ................................................................ 3,941 3,641 300 7.6

With one member in the labor force .................................. 8,314 6,227 2,088 25.1

 Householder .................................................................... 6,780 4,969 1,811 26.7

 Relative ........................................................................... 1,534 1,258 277 18.0

With two or more members in the labor force ................... 3,328 3,071 257 7.7

 Families maintained by men ..................................... 4,812 4,212 601 12.5

With related children under 18 years ................................ 2,508 2,052 456 18.2

Without children ................................................................ 2,304 2,160 144 6.3

With one member in the labor force .................................. 2,903 2,391 512 17.6

 Householder .................................................................... 2,365 1,940 425 18.0

 Relative ........................................................................... 538 452 86 16.1

With two or more members in the labor force ................... 1,909 1,820 89 4.6

1 Number below the poverty level as a percent of the total in the labor force for 27 or more weeks.

 NOTE: Data relate to primary families with at least one member in the labor force for 27 or more weeks.

11
Table 6. 3HRSOHLQIDPLOLHVDQGXQUHODWHGLQGLYLGXDOVSRYHUW\VWDWXVDQGZRUNH[SHULHQFH

(Numbers in thousands)

Poverty status and work experience Total

people

In married-couple families In families maintained by

women

In families maintained by

men

Unrelated

individuals Husbands Wives

Related

children

under

18

years

Other

relatives

Householder

Related

children

under

18

years

Other

relatives

Householder

Related

children

under

18

years

Other

relatives

7RWDO

 All people1 .................................. 237,158 57,735 58,368 5,590 20,137 14,837 2,269 12,526 5,547 586 5,935 53,629

With labor force activity .................. 159,776 44,896 37,769 1,508 12,941 10,426 502 7,543 4,282 130 3,908 35,871

 1 to 26 weeks ............................... 11,874 1,417 2,495 913 2,400 749 288 903 213 68 356 2,073

 27 or more weeks ........................ 147,902 43,479 35,273 595 10,541 9,678 214 6,641 4,069 62 3,552 33,798

With no labor force activity ............. 77,382 12,839 20,599 4,082 7,196 4,411 1,767 4,983 1,266 455 2,027 17,758

$WRUDERYHSRYHUW\OHYHO

 All people1 .................................. 207,602 54,378 54,963 5,179 18,985 10,400 1,527 10,167 4,607 464 5,228 41,704

With labor force activity .................. 147,061 42,902 36,740 1,463 12,534 7,950 392 6,654 3,721 118 3,635 30,953

 1 to 26 weeks ............................... 9,550 1,255 2,286 882 2,306 293 213 694 157 62 301 1,101

 27 or more weeks ........................ 137,511 41,647 34,454 581 10,228 7,657 179 5,960 3,563 56 3,334 29,852

With no labor force activity ............. 60,541 11,475 18,223 3,716 6,452 2,450 1,135 3,513 887 347 1,594 10,751

%HORZSRYHUW\OHYHO

 All people1 .................................. 29,556 3,357 3,405 410 1,152 4,437 742 2,359 940 122 706 11,925

With labor force activity .................. 12,715 1,994 1,029 45 407 2,477 110 889 561 13 273 4,918

 1 to 26 weeks ............................... 2,324 162 209 31 94 456 75 209 55 6 55 971

 27 or more weeks ........................ 10,391 1,831 819 14 313 2,021 35 680 506 – 218 3,947

With no labor force activity ............. 16,841 1,363 2,376 366 744 1,960 633 1,470 379 109 433 7,007

5DWH2

 All people1 .................................. 12.5 5.8 5.8 7.3 5.7 29.9 32.7 18.8 16.9 20.8 11.9 22.2

With labor force activity .................. 8.0 4.4 2.7 3.0 3.1 23.8 21.9 11.8 13.1 9.9 7.0 13.7

 1 to 26 weeks ............................... 19.6 11.5 8.4 3.4 3.9 60.9 25.9 23.1 26.0 9.3 15.4 46.9

 27 or more weeks ........................ 7.0 4.2 2.3 2.3 3.0 20.9 16.4 10.2 12.4 3 ( ) 6.1 11.7

With no labor force activity ............. 21.8 10.6 11.5 9.0 10.3 44.4 35.8 29.5 29.9 23.9 21.4 39.5

1 Data on families include primary families that own or rent the housing unit as well as related and unrelated subfamilies that reside with them. 2 Number below the poverty level as a percent of the total. 3 Data not shown where base is less than 80,000.

 NOTE: Dash represents or rounds to zero.

12
Table 7. 8QUHODWHGLQGLYLGXDOVLQWKHODERUIRUFHIRURUPRUHZHHNVSRYHUW\VWDWXVE\DJHVH[UDFH+LVSDQLFRU

/DWLQRHWKQLFLW\DQGOLYLQJDUUDQJHPHQW

(Numbers in thousands)

Characteristic Total At or above

poverty level

Below poverty

level Rate1

$JHDQGVH[

Total unrelated individuals ............................................................................ 33,798 29,852 3,947 11.7

16 to 19 years ................................................................................................... 408 206 202 49.6

20 to 24 years ................................................................................................... 4,245 3,230 1,015 23.9

25 to 64 years ................................................................................................... 27,180 24,529 2,651 9.8

65 years and older ............................................................................................ 1,965 1,888 77 3.9

Men ................................................................................................................... 18,955 16,790 2,165 11.4

Women ............................................................................................................. 14,844 13,062 1,782 12.0

5DFHDQG+LVSDQLFRU/DWLQRHWKQLFLW\

White ............................................................................................................... 27,520 24,479 3,041 11.1

 Men ................................................................................................................ 15,676 13,980 1,696 10.8

 Women .......................................................................................................... 11,844 10,499 1,345 11.4

Black or African American ............................................................................... 4,342 3,686 656 15.1

 Men ................................................................................................................ 2,225 1,883 342 15.4

 Women .......................................................................................................... 2,116 1,802 314 14.8

Asian ................................................................................................................ 1,066 946 120 11.3

 Men ................................................................................................................ 597 540 57 9.5

 Women .......................................................................................................... 469 406 64 13.6

Hispanic or Latino ethnicity ............................................................................... 4,245 3,472 773 18.2

 Men ................................................................................................................ 2,921 2,395 526 18.0

 Women .......................................................................................................... 1,324 1,077 247 18.7

/LYLQJDUUDQJHPHQW

Living alone ...................................................................................................... 17,348 15,982 1,366 7.9

Living with others .............................................................................................. 16,450 13,870 2,581 15.7

1 Number below the poverty level as a percent of the total in the

labor force for 27 or more weeks.

 NOTE: Estimates for the race groups shown (White, Black or

African American, and Asian) do not sum to totals because data are

not presented for all races. Persons whose ethnicity is identified as

Hispanic or Latino may be of any race.

13
Table 8. 3HRSOHLQWKHODERUIRUFHIRURUPRUHZHHNVSRYHUW\VWDWXVDQGODERUPDUNHWSUREOHPVRIIXOOWLPHZDJH

DQGVDODU\ZRUNHUV

(Numbers in thousands)

Labor market problems Total At or above

poverty level

Below poverty

level Rate1

 Total, full-time wage and salary workers ..................................................... 110,329 106,146 4,183 3.8

No unemployment, involuntary part-time employment, or low earnings2 ......... 86,735 86,160 575 .7

Unemployment only .......................................................................................... 8,537 7,947 591 6.9

Involuntary part-time employment only ............................................................. 3,308 3,240 68 2.1

Low earnings only ............................................................................................. 6,445 5,006 1,439 22.3

Unemployment and involuntary part-time employment .................................... 1,750 1,600 150 8.6

Unemployment and low earnings ..................................................................... 1,951 1,160 791 40.6

Involuntary part-time employment and low earnings ........................................ 924 662 262 28.3

Unemployment, involuntary part-time employment, and low earnings ............. 679 372 307 45.2

Unemployment (alone or with other problems) ................................................. 12,917 11,078 1,839 14.2

Involuntary part-time employment (alone or with other problems) ................... 6,662 5,874 787 11.8

Low earnings (alone or with other problems) ................................................... 9,999 7,200 2,799 28.0

1 Number below the poverty level as a percent of the total in the labor force for 27 or more weeks. 2 The low-earnings threshold in 2009 was $315.76 per week.

14