FACTS & RESEARCH

FAST FACTS

Graphic depicting Illinois Partners' research indicating that 82% of frontline human service workers report not making a living wage.

Graphic depicting Illinois Partners' research indicating that 92% of frontline workers in single income households with the children, the majority of which are women, do not earn a living wage.

Graphic depicting Illinois Partners' research indicating that $2,378 is the amount of additional monthly income required, on average, to fully cover the cost of employee basic needs.

*Data from Illinois Partners for Human Service's report, "Worker Well-Being is Community Well-Being: Why the Human Service Workforce Needs a Living Wage."

KEY FACTS TO KNOW

The human Service workforce is highly skilled and educated. Illinois Partners for Human Service’s research shows that among the more than 850 workers surveyed, more than 70% have at least a bachelor’s degree and yet more than 64% self-report not earning a living wage.

The pipeline of people entering the human services workforce has been steadily decreasing. Employees at community-based organizations are leaving the sector due to perpetual low pay, lack of benefits, and high student loan debt as many frontline positions require advanced degrees and professional licenses.

State funding for human services in Illinois is 25% less of the General Revenue Fund than it was 27 years ago, representing chronically underfunded state contracts amidst increasing demand for services, high caseloads, increasing costs of delivering services, and inflation, resulting in a waning, overworked and underpaid workforce.

* Data cited from Illinois Partners for Human Service's report, "Worker Well-Being is Community Well-Being: Why the Human Service Workforce Needs a Living Wage."

RESEARCH

Image of cover of Illinois Partners' report

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