The Abercrombie-Ige Agenda Isn't Working: Hawaii Families Work Harder To Cope With Rising Costs

News Release from Hawaii Republican Party

HONOLULU (September 12, 2014) - After four years of the failed Abercrombie-Ige policy agenda, Hawaii workers find they have to work harder while earning inadequate wages in order to keep up with the soaring cost of living. Hawaii can clearly do better when studies show that the Aloha State ranks among the worst in the country when it comes to workforce statistics.

"Four years of the Abercrombie-Ige policy agenda have left Hawaii families working harder and getting less in return. The last thing voters are looking for are another four years of Governor Abercrombie and Senator Ige's failed policies." --Ted Kwong, Hawaii Republican Party Communications Advisor

BACKGROUND:

A Recent State Labor Department Survey Shows The Most Common Job In Hawaii Pays $10.92 An Hour. “More than 24,000 people work in retail sales earning a median wage of just $10.92 per hour. That’s the state’s biggest occupation next to office clerks and cashiers, which each have about 14,000, the analysis found.” (Anita Hofschnieder, “The Most Popular Job in Hawaii Pays $10.92 Per Hour,” Honolulu Civil Beat, 8/27/14)

Far More Hawaii Workers Have Multiple Jobs Than The National Average To Cope With The Cost Of Living. “We have to work more. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, 6.2 percent of Hawaii workers have more than one job, compared to only 4.9 percent nationally.” (Kery Murakami, “Living Hawaii: Why Is the Price of Paradise So High?” Honolulu Civil Beat, 9/4/13)

In 2014, CNBC Placed Hawaii's Workforce Rating As Second Worst In The Country. “Hawaii finishes 49th overall, which matches the Aloha State's rankings in our Cost of Doing Business, Workforce and Cost of Living categories. But Hawaii does improve on last year's last-place overall ranking. And it still has the best quality of life.” (Scott Cohn, “5 worst states for business in the US,” CNBC, 6/24/14)

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