Jobs Aren't Enough

This unflinching examination of the obstacles to economic mobility for low-income families exposes the ugly reality that lies beneath the shining surface of the American Dream. The fact is that nearly 25% of employed adults have difficulty supporting their families today. In eye-opening interviews, twenty-five workers and nearly a thousand people who are linked to them-children, teachers, job trainers, and employers-tell wrenching stories about "e;trying to get ahead."e; Spanning five cities over five years, this study convincingly demonstrates that prevailing ideas about opportunity, merit, and "e;bootstraps"e; are outdated. As the authors show, some workers who believe the myths end up destroying their health and families in the process of trying to "e;move up."e; Jobs Aren't Enough demonstrates that the social institutions of family, education, labor market, and policy all intersect to influence-and inhibit-employment mobility. It proposes a new mobility paradigm grounded in cooperation and collaboration across social institutions, along with revitalization of the "e;public will."e;