Surge of jobs in Orange County raises concerns over income inequality

World Today

Surge of jobs in Orange County raises concerns over income inequality

There’s been a big increase in jobs in one area of California. But it’s got some more worried than excited. And Orange County, around an hour from Los Angeles, is seeing something of an exodus.

CCTV America’s Phil Lavelle reports to learn more.

It’s a word we’ve heard a lot of recently. Especially from Donald Trump: “We’re gonna grow the economy. It’s gonna grow at a record rate.”

He’s promising to create loads of new jobs. But they’re one ahead of him in Orange County, California. There’s been a surge in new jobs here.

But the issue here is that lots of those jobs are at the lower end of the salary scale. What some might call poverty level jobs.

Add to that the fact that Orange County is one of the most expensive places in the country to live. A number of college graduates can’t afford to live here.

They’re being priced out and leaving. Which is leading to something of a skills shortage here.

There’s the median house price in the U.S. as of last month – just under a quarter of a million dollars. In Orange County – more than double that at $661,500.

To comfortably afford rent on a two bed apartment here, economists said you’d need to make about $32 an hour. The current minimum wage in California – is $10 an hour.


Richard Wolff on urban income inequality

For more on US’s urban income inequalities, CCTV America’s Michelle Makori spoke with Richard Wolff, a professor of economics and founder of Democracy at Work.