The ultimate goal of Jubilee Jobs is not simply to help the unemployed find jobs, but to find jobs which will lead to a minimal level of self-sufficiency in our society.

As documented by Robert Pollin and Stephanie Luce in their book The Living Wage--Building a Fair Economy (New Press, 2000) minimum wages in the United States, even if earned full-time, 40 hours a week, 52 weeks a year, do not approach federal poverty levels. In Washington DC, the minimum wage as of 2003 was $6.15 per hour-but the Living Wage (defined as the wage required to support one adult and child) is estimated to be more than double that figure.

Jubilee Jobs was pleased to have Robert Pollin as the keynote speaker for our 2002 Annual Benefit Dinner. Mr. Pollin made his case for a national Living Wage policy, arguing that in addition to giving a better life to Living Wage earners and their dependents, the Living Wage policy will actually cost society less than current minimum wage / welfare programs.

The first large city to adopt a living wage policy-requiring that contractors bidding on city projects must pay their workers at least a Living Wage-was Baltimore. Today, more than a dozen of America's major cities, including New York, Los Angeles, Boston, Minneapolis, Milwaukee and Portland, Oregon have adopted the Living Wage standard. In the Washington DC area, many jurisdictions are considering living wage proposals.

Jubilee Jobs is committed to helping our workers climb above the minimum wage. Through our process of providing continuing support, communication and community to all Jubilee clients, we help to keep workers in jobs as they progress along the path toward a Living Wage.