Employment Circumstances and Use of Financial Services Among Low-Wage Workers

Work arrangements have become increasingly varied in recent years, with much labor-market participation happening outside of traditional full-time roles. As gig work and other forms of self-employment, contract labor, and part-time positions grow, and work arrangements diversify, employment instability is a growing concern, especially for low-wage workers. This brief presents original evidence on the use of financial services among low-wage workers in the United States. Data come from the Workforce Economic Inclusion and Mobility (WEIM) survey administered to a nationally representative sample of 2,511 U.S. workers earning less than 250% of the federal poverty line.