August 2005
San Diego’s growing health care industry is making its mark in the local economy with its demand for skilled, high-income employees. However, this industry is also known for a large proportion of low-wage occupations. Caring at a Cost is an in-depth case study of employment among lower-paid employees at Children’s Hospital-San Diego, including analyses of employee wage and benefits data and our own survey data.
Among Children’s Hospital’s clerical, service and maintenance employees, it was found that 53% earned below a self-sufficiency wage necessary to meet basic living expenses in San Diego County. Ironically, many were forced to resort to public assistance for health insurance, costing taxpayers nearly $700,000 annually.
Based on the study findings, the report offers several specific policy recommendations to improve the working conditions in the health care industry and at Children’s Hospital in particular.
