The federal EITC provides a supplement to low-income families with earnings from work. Expansion of the federal EITC, coupled with creation of a state EITC, would boost the incomes of working families most in need of assistance. Policies that improve access to health coverage and quality, affordable child and after-school care can go a long way toward helping families make ends meet. Living wage ordinances are a good way for government to demonstrate its commitment to decent wages for all workers. California should consider exempting those individuals who work, but earn so little as to remain eligible for public assistance, from the time limits imposed by welfare reform.
Unemployment remains high in many parts of California.
Encouraging welfare recipients to pursue an education will reduce competition at the low end of the labor market and increase the odds that individuals leaving assistance for employment will earn enough to become self-sufficient. Although this will not eliminate the job gap overnight, it will ensure that public resources are devoted to bringing and keeping high-wage jobs in California. Click here to download this report in the PDF format . Click here to view the full report in the HTML format . Jean Ross and Jesse Rothstein wrote this report.