(Shreveport, LA) – In 2023, 44% of workers in Louisiana’s 20 most common jobs lived in households that couldn’t afford basics, according to new data from United Way of Northwest Louisiana (UWNWLA) and its research partner United For ALICE. These workers – the backbone of every community – include cooks, personal care aides, fast food and counter workers, and other healthcare support workers.

The State of ALICE in Louisiana reveals that traditional measures of poverty have severely undercounted the number of households statewide that are living in financial hardship. While 19% of all households in the state lived in poverty in 2023, the new research shows that 30% – nearly twice as many – were ALICE® (Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed). Combined, 50% of Louisiana’s households fell below the ALICE Threshold of Financial Survival in 2023, decreased slightly from 51% in 2021

ALICE households bring in less than the basic costs of housing, child care, food, transportation, health care and technology, plus taxes. Yet because their income is above the Federal Poverty Level, they often don’t qualify for assistance.

“When we underestimate how many households are struggling, we underestimate what it truly takes to build thriving communities,” said UWNWLA President and CEO LaToria W. Thomas. “This means entire families and essential workers may be overlooked for support, left without the resources they need to stay healthy, achieve financial stability and reach their fullest potential. That’s a loss not just for ALICE, but for all of us.”

The crux of the struggle for ALICE families is the gap between wages and expenses. In 2023, a family of four in Louisiana needed $81,432 just to cover the essentials – nearly three times the Federal Poverty Level of $30,000. Yet even with both parents working full time in two of the state’s most common jobs – a personal care aide and a stock worker/order filler – this family’s combined income still fell short of the cost of basics by $28,982.

The State of ALICE in Louisiana also reveals that in 2023:

●        Louisiana ranked 50th in financial hardship among all 50 states plus the District of Columbia, with one of the nation’s highest percentages of households struggling to make ends meet.

●        Some groups face financial hardship at disproportionate rates, with 66% of Black/African American households and 78% of households headed by someone under the age of 25 in Louisiana falling below the ALICE Threshold, compared with 76% of single-headed with children households.

●        Housing continues to be an obstacle for struggling families. Among households below the ALICE Threshold in Louisiana, 65% of households that rented and 44% of those that owned were rent and housing burdened – meaning they paid 30% or more of their income on rent and housing costs.

“ALICE families are especially vulnerable during natural disasters and times of economic uncertainty and yet often feel unseen or left behind,” said Stephanie Hoopes, Ph.D., National Director at United For ALICE. “By providing a name and a way to quantify these households, we’re equipping communities with the data to build solutions that offer better choices and real pathways to stability.”

More state and local data is available through the interactive dashboards on https://unitedforalice.org/louisiana.

 United Way of Northwest Louisiana mobilizes communities to action so all can thrive. True to our founding spirit, whenever there is a need in our communities, United Way is there. We bring a comprehensive approach to every challenge, actively listening and responding to local needs. Our reach across tens of thousands of communities means we can share innovations and scale impact to improve lives around the world. From strengthening local resilience to advancing health, youth opportunity, and financial security, we’re working towards a future where every person in every community can reach their full potential. To learn more, visit United Way of Northwest Louisiana.

United For ALICE is a U.S. research organization driving innovation, research and action to improve life across the country for ALICE® (Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed) and for all. Through the development of the ALICE measurements, a comprehensive, unbiased picture of financial hardship has emerged. Harnessing this data and research on the mismatch between low-paying jobs and the cost of survival, ALICE partners convene, advocate and collaborate on solutions that promote financial stability at local, state and national levels. This grassroots ALICE movement, led by United Way of Northern New Jersey, has spread to 35 states and the District of Columbia and includes United Ways, corporations, nonprofits and foundations in Alabama, Arkansas, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawai‘i, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, Washington, Washington, D.C., West Virginia and Wisconsin; we are United For ALICE. For more information, visit: UnitedForALICE.org.

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