Final answer:
The question relates to the concept of living wage jobs, reflecting pay disparities among workers and the role of living wage laws in ensuring workers can afford basic necessities.
It covers the progression from historical pay structures without support for unemployment to modern ordinances mandating higher wages to meet living standards.
Step-by-step explanation:
The student's question pertains to living wage jobs in Rochester per 1000 working age adults. When discussing living wage, it is important to consider the historical context of worker's compensation and the disparity in pay amongst adult males, adult females, and children.
Work during these times was unreliable and came without a safety net for periods of unemployment, as most governments did not offer unemployment insurance, nor was government-subsidized housing available. Workers had to rely on religious institutions or private charities for support.
Modern movements for a living wage argue for wage standards that ensure full-time workers earn enough to afford basic needs such as food, clothing, shelter, and healthcare. The first living wage law was passed in Baltimore in 1994, and since then, dozens of cities have enacted similar laws.
These ordinances typically require that city employees or employees of firms contracted by the city are paid a certain wage, which is usually a few dollars per hour above the U.S. minimum wage.
This ensures those employed full-time can live with dignity and support themselves and their families.
It also reflects the data provided by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, which indicates median weekly earnings for full-time, wage and salary workers over 25, and considers those with an advanced degree.