MONROE, LA – In 2023, 30% of workers in Louisiana’s 20 most common jobs lived in households that couldn’t afford basics, according to new data from United Way of Northeast Louisiana (UWNELA) and its research partner United For ALICE. These workers – the backbone of every community – include personal care aides, janitors, cashiers and waiters and waitresses.
The State of ALICE in Louisiana reveals that traditional measures of poverty have severely undercounted the number of households in Louisiana that are living in financial hardship. While 19% of all households in Louisiana lived in poverty in 2023, the new research shows that 30.5% – more than twice as many – were ALICE® (Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed). Combined, nearly 50% of Louisiana’s households fell below the ALICE Threshold of Financial Survival in 2023, which has decreased since 2021. In Northeast Louisiana in 2023, out of 147,803 households, there were 37,134 (25%) in poverty plus 44,044 (30%) that were ALICE, totaling 81,178 (56%) below the ALICE Threshold, which is rounded to 56% in this Report.
ALICE households bring in less than the basic costs of housing, childcare, food, transportation, health care and technology, plus taxes. Yet because their income is above the Federal Poverty Level, they often don’t qualify for assistance.
“When we underestimate how many families are barely getting by, we miss what it truly takes to build strong, thriving communities,” said Kim Lowery, President and CEO of United Way of Northeast Louisiana. “These are our essential workers and caregivers—people we all rely on every day—yet they’re often left without the support they need to stay healthy, stable, and hopeful. But we have a choice. By coming together as businesses, neighbors, and community leaders, we can invest in real solutions that help ALICE families not just survive, but truly thrive. That’s how we build a stronger Northeast Louisiana—for all of us.”
The crux of the struggle for ALICE families is the gap between wages and expenses. In 2023, a family of four in Louisiana needed $81,432 just to cover the essentials – nearly three times the Federal Poverty Level of $30,000. Yet even with both parents working full time in two of the state’s most common jobs – a personal care aide and a stock worker/order filler – this family’s combined income still fell short of the cost of basics by $29,982.
The State of ALICE in Louisiana also reveals that in 2023:
- Louisiana ranked 50th in financial hardship among all 50 states plus the District of Columbia, with one of the nation’s highest percentages of households struggling to make ends meet.
- Housing continues to be an obstacle for struggling families. Among households below the ALICE Threshold in Louisiana, 25% of households that rented and 65% of those that owned were rent and housing burdened – meaning they paid 30% or more of their income on rent and housing costs.
“ALICE families are especially vulnerable during natural disasters and times of economic uncertainty and yet often feel unseen or left behind,” said Stephanie Hoopes, Ph.D., National Director at United For ALICE. “By providing a name and a way to quantify these households, we’re equipping communities with the data to build solutions that offer better choices and real pathways to stability.”
More state and local data is available through the interactive dashboards on UnitedForALICE.org/Louisiana.
About United Way of Northeast Louisiana
United Way of Northeast Louisiana is dedicated to improving lives and strengthening communities through a focus on education, financial stability, health, and basic needs. In partnership with local volunteers, donors, and organizations, United Way NELA creates lasting, measurable change across the region. Louisiana has the highest percentage of ALICE families in the nation, with over 50% of households statewide unable to meet basic needs. In Northeast Louisiana, the rate is even higher. United Way NELA addresses these challenges head-on through targeted programs that help families thrive.
About United For ALICE
United For ALICE is a U.S. research organization driving innovation, research and action to improve life across the country for ALICE® (Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed) and for all. Through the development of the ALICE measurements, a comprehensive, unbiased picture of financial hardship has emerged. Harnessing this data and research on the mismatch between low-paying jobs and the cost of survival, ALICE partners convene, advocate and collaborate on solutions that promote financial stability at local, state and national levels. This grassroots ALICE movement, led by United Way of Northern New Jersey, has spread to 35 states and the District of Columbia and includes United Ways, corporations, nonprofits and foundations in Alabama, Arkansas, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawai‘i, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, Washington, Washington, D.C., West Virginia and Wisconsin; we are United For ALICE. For more information, visit: unitedwaynela.org/alice