More than 80 percent of new hires in North Carolina are for low-wage jobs

The "left-leaning" North Carolina Justice Center released a report Wednesday that found that more than 80 percent of the state's new hires from June 2009 through September 2013 were for low-wage jobs, defined by the center “as a job that pays less than what it takes for a family or an individual to make ends meet,” Richard Craver reports for the Winston-Salem Journal. Last month the center released a report saying that most job-growth incentives in the state go to wealthy urban areas, with little going to rural areas, including the state's most distressed.

"The center reported that during the four-year period, the state had a net gain of 75,157 ultra-low wage jobs (paying less than $24,000 annually), a net gain of 34,685 low-wage jobs (paying between $24,000 and $33,709) and a net gain of 21,887 jobs paying more than $33,709," Craver writes. 

The state's fastest growing ultra-low wage jobs are in fast-food, which accounted for 32,309 new hires, earning an average wage of $279 per week. Janitorial work was second, with 9,733 new hires, averaging $443 a week, Craver writes. The fastest growing low-wage jobs were in temporary work, with 44,721 new hires averaging $583 per week. That was followed by auto parts accessories and tire stores, with 2,038 new hires with an average weekly wage of $546. (Read more)