Understanding the Experiences, Needs, and Voices of Workers in Low-Income Households During COVID-19

The COVID-19 pandemic and its economic fallout have caused major disruptions for many workers and their families, particularly individuals working in jobs with low wages. This report and its accompanying brief summarize the experiences that 41 such workers shared during in-depth interviews, which examined how the respondents’ employment situations changed during the pandemic and the financial struggles they faced as a result of losing their job or having their work hours reduced. The stories and experiences workers share in the report and brief can help policymakers, employers, and programs that are interested in better supporting individuals with low incomes and their families.