Why Working

Oklahomans Stay Poor

Carly Putnam
OICA2015
cputnam@okpolicy.org

Definitions & Key Concepts

Relative
Merriam Webster's Definition
(a): the state of one who lacks a
usual or socially acceptable
amount of money or material
possessions

Definitions & Key Concepts

Resources vs. Needs

Definitions & Key Concepts

Central feature
Difficulty meeting basic
human needs

Definitions & Key Concepts

2015 Poverty Guidelines
Persons in family/household
Poverty guideline
1
$11,770
2
$15,930
3
$20,090
4
$24,250
5
$28,410
6
$32,570
7
$36,730
8
$40,890

Definitions & Key Concepts

Safety Net
Theory vs. Reality

State-level Data & Trends

Poverty rate: Oklahoma vs. US

2008-2013
17.2%
17.2%
16.9%
16.8%
16.2%
15.9%
15.9%
15.9%
15.8%
15.3%
14.3%
13.2%

2008

2009

2010

2011

2012

2013

State-level Data & Trends

Oklahoma Poverty Rate by Age,

2013
23.7%

15.7%
9.5%

<18

18-64

65+

State-level Data & Trends

Oklahoma adult poverty rate, by
gender, 2013
18.4%

15.3%

Men

Women

Percent in total state population vs.

percent of those in poverty, 2013
Hispanic, non-white

9.4%

2 or more races

7.7%

Asian

1.6%
1.8%

AI/AN

6.9%

Black
White, not Hispanic

7.1%

15.5%
10.5%

9.2%
12.7%
50.5%
67.8%

Causes & Consequences

1. Underemployment & Low-wage Work

Nearly 1 in 3 jobs are in occupations where the median

pay is below poverty

73% of Oklahoma families <200% of poverty work

The state consistently tops the nation for the share of

adult workers that are not fully employed

People in eastern Oklahoma and people of color are

unemployed at disproportionately higher rates

Causes & Consequences

2. Low Educational Attainment

Causes & Consequences

3. Mass Incarceration
Incarceration takes a lifelong toll on an individuals
earning capacity
There are significant barriers to stable employment
and financial stability for felons and ex-offenders
Employment, housing discrimination
Fee payments, drivers licenses
Child support

Causes & Consequences

4. Hunger and poor health
17 percent of Oklahoma households are foodinsecure
66% RFBO households choose between food and
medical care
Over 500,000 residents are uninsured
Malnutrition, poor health, or untreated illness stunt a
workers capacity to earn and drains their assets.

Causes & Consequences

5. Inequality

Women
The only state where the life expectancy for women
declined during the past decade

Nearly the lowest percentage of female state legislators

People of color
Have been unemployed at nearly twice the rate of whites
since WWII

Disproportionately impacted by criminal justice system

Causes & Consequences

5. Inequality: Moving up the ladder?
Lowest absolute mobility in Oklahoma
Lowest relative upward mobility
Among the highest in terms of downward mobility
33% of residents move down 10 or more
percentiles of the earnings distribution during
their working years

State-level Data & Trends

Safety Net

TANF (welfare)
SNAP (food stamps)
Medicaid
EITC

TANF
Children in families where no parent has regular, full-time
employment
Children receiving TANF
271,000

30,258
2009

301,000

33,477
2010

282,000

32,468
2011

281,000

29,543
2012

284,000

26,489
2013

SNAP recipients per month,

Oklahoma, 2013
14%
10%

44%

8%

24%
A Place at the Table

Medicaid in Oklahoma
Medicaid covered 829,561 people in
Oklahoma as of July 2015
2.75%

5.04% 0.05%

0.07%

Children (all)
Aged/Blind/Disabled

10.28%

Parents
Other

16.35%

SoonerPlan
65.45%

Oklahoma Cares
TEFRA
Source: SoonerCare Fast Facts

The Coverage Crater

104,000

Cumulative WIC cases, Oklahoma,

2007-2014
1,233,521 1,261,243
1,136,891

2007

1,167,778

2008

2009

2010

1,190,808

2011

1,133,050

2012

1,087,731

2013

1,054,768

2014

EITC

Questions?
Carly Putnam
918 794 3944
cputnam@okpolicy.org