MEMPHIS, Tenn. — The Memphis Chamber recently touted 700 jobs added to the local economy, but what does it mean for the average family in the city?
A University of Memphis professor said the city should be focusing on building within – looking past traditional “logistics” roles.
“Let me just start by stating $15 an hour is so 2015," said Dr. Delavega. "We really should be looking at 20-25 dollars an hour now.”
A family of four needs about $75,000 a year, shared UofM social work professor Elena Delavega.
She researches economic development and how poverty plays a major factor.
“$15 an hour, that would be $30,000, so that would bring us out of poverty barely,” said Delavega.
MIT reports the living wage in Memphis is just under $15 an hour with a child a little over $28 an hour and with three kids, about $46.
Dr. Delavega said though jobs are basic, high wages should be the focus.
“When we talk about the 700 jobs that were just added," Delavega said. "A, way too few, and b, what do you mean by jobs? Are they at $7.25 an hour?"
"We don’t really want jobs, what we want is living wages middle-class wages, the opportunity for people to join the middle class and participate in society," she said.
The economist believes for economic growth to be fueled the city needs a stronger middle class.
“The middle class is disappearing and that should be concerning because it’s going to take democracy with it, and that’s scary,” she said.
The remedy? Building from within.
“I would like to really ask the Chamber of Commerce to promote Memphis and Memphians rather than to bring people from the outside,” Delavega said. "Quite frankly, I’m sick and tired of Memphians to be considered inferior low-cost labor.”
Delavega also said poverty wages also touch education and then what all city leaders are trying to slow down crime.