Income & Working Families

While working hard, many of Mississippi’s families fall short of economic security. According to an analysis of data from the U.S. Census, approximately 42% of Mississippi’s working families are low-income and 22% of residents live in poverty. The resources below examine ways to improve the economic opportunities of Mississippi’s working families through work supports, job training, and higher education.

Featured Reports & Facts Sheets

September 19th, 2013
Earlier today the U.S. Census American Communities Survey poverty data was updated to include data for 2012.  The data revealed some grim news for Mississippi families.  Poverty in Mississippi is increasing.  In 2007 one in five Mississippians lived in poverty… (read more)
January 31st, 2013
A piece of legislation moving through the Mississippi House would set aside $10 million in public tax revenue for funding private school tuition. The $10 million for private school subsidies would be supported by tax credits to individuals or businesses… (read more)
December 3rd, 2012
Developmental education courses offer a route to college-readiness for over 22,000 of community college students across Mississippi each year. However, taking developmental education courses requires additional time and financial resources from students, and as a result, students in remedial courses… (read more)

All Reports & Facts Sheets

April 9th, 2013
According to a recent report from the Food Research Action Center, Mississippi is first on the list of the top 20 states for food hardship, with a food hardship rate of 24.6%. This rate was determined by asking households throughout… (read more)
April 8th, 2013
A recent post discusses changes in the income of Mississippi’s households relative to the increasingly costs of colleges and universities in the state. For low-income students that are eligible for support through the federal Pell Grant program, a full Pell… (read more)
April 1st, 2013
The rising costs of college have received lots of attention nationwide and in Mississippi. Here, we take a closer look at college costs relative to changes in household income in the state. Simply put, the incomes families earn are not… (read more)
March 22nd, 2013
As Mississippi’s Legislative Session continues, appropriations bills for state agencies and critical programs are transitioning through the Legislature. Among them are appropriations bills for all levels of education- including Mississippi’s universities. Over the last decade the combination of funding and… (read more)
March 8th, 2013
The U.S. added 236,000 jobs in the month of February according to data released by the Bureau of Labor Statistics today. The increase in employment led the unemployment rate to tick down to 7.7% nationally. The nation’s job growth represents… (read more)