In recent days, labor and community groups have rallied in Houston and across the nation, calling for a minimum wage hike, and encouraging employers to voluntarily pay their employees more.
Texas has more minimum wage workers than any other state, and the 2nd-highest percentage of hourly paid workers making the minimum wage or less.
Here in Houston, we have special challenges for budget-squeezed Houstonians, from a climate all but requiring air conditioning that drives up electric bills, to potentially long, expensive, gas-burning commutes. All of which leads to this question: Can you actually get by with a full-time, minimum wage job in Houston?
Today on Houston Matters, we pose that question to a pair of area economists, and do the math, examining the true costs of living in Houston.
Also, we explore continuing concerns in Houston about non-accredited private schools, which some characterize as little more than diploma mills. We take you to a Houston children’s theater production of Three Billy Goats Gruff. And we learn about Houston Restaurant Weeks.
We welcome your thoughts below, on our Facebook page, or at talk@houstonmatters.org.
