Based on 51 weeks of work at 40 hours per week. The California Labor Code was amended in 1972 to include men under coverage by Industrial Welfare Commission Wage and Hours Orders. The CBP single worker budget adopts the Minnie's Budget standard in this regard. 15 Miscellaneous items include education and reading costs, telephone, clothing, and personal care. Overall, Minnie's Budget was higher in miscellaneous and food costs, but lower in housing.
Less income is needed because the second parent is assumed to be available for child care.
The numbers are based on statewide costs. Hourly wages reported here are based on 51 weeks of work per year, and 40 hours of work per week. 17 Tenth percentile wages appear to have been drawn down by the diminishing purchasing power of the minimum wage, as during the 1979-87 period the minimum wage lost 26 percent of its value. 18 Employment increased from 14,495,000 to 15,775,000 persons, while unemployment decreased from 1,093,000 to 817,000 over the period. 19 Employment Development Department data show that retail trade grew by five percent over the period, while services grew by 14 percent.