Washington, D.C. — While working families across America—and especially in Nevada—continue to struggle, a new fact sheet released today by the Center for American Progress shows that key policies such as paid family leave, earned sick leave, equal pay, access to affordable child care, and a livable minimum wage are keys to ensuring that those families have the opportunity to get ahead. Nevada women earn only 85 cents for every dollar that Nevada men make.
“Every Nevada family deserves the opportunity to leave our children a little better off than we are,” said Annette Magnus, executive director of the Institute for a Progressive Nevada. “We need economic and workplace policies such as child care, paid family leave, and paid sick days to ensure families don’t start from behind and have access to opportunity.”
CAP’s new analysis also finds that 49 percent of private-sector workers in Nevada—or 500,000 people—do not have paid sick days, far higher than the national average. Furthermore, the analysis shows that for a Nevada family with an infant and a 4-year-old, child care costs an average of nearly $18,000 per year, making it out of reach for working families.
“Nevada needs policies that provide everyone with an opportunity to get ahead. Women and families deserve a fair shot at achieving economic security and success, especially in this still-recovering economy,” said Jocelyn Frye, Senior Fellow at the Center for American Progress. “We all can play a role in helping women and men fulfill their responsibilities at work and at home without forcing them to choose between the two. Businesses and elected officials are a critical part of the solution and have the tools to bring our workplaces into the 21st century.”
Read the fact sheet: “Fast Facts: Economic Security for Nevada Families” By Ryan Erickson, Sarah Jane Glynn, Heidi Williamson
Léalo en español: “Datos importantes: La seguridad económica para las families de Nevada”
For more information on this topic or to speak with an expert, contact Benton Strong at 202.481.8142 or [email protected].