Work Alone Leaves 42% of U.S. Households Below Survival Budgets
Stephanie Hoopes of United For ALICE said 42% of U.S. households were below the group’s conservative survival threshold in 2023, including many families above the federal poverty line but unable to cover basic costs. In a May 2026 discussion hosted by the Aspen Institute Economic Opportunities Program and United For ALICE, speakers argued that this makes hardship among working households a job-quality and affordability problem, not simply a poverty problem. They presented ALICE at Work as an employer-focused effort to use local data and peer cohorts to change the workplace practices that affect income, costs, stability, and advancement.
The Aspen Institute·May 21, 2026·20 min read
