Food and employment

Wages

Food processing workers rarely earn a "living wage". For instance, in the United States, gross annual incomes from meatpacking jobs usually fall a few thousand dollars above or below established federal minimum wage levels; income in poultry processing is even less, while in fish processing earnings can fall to half of established poverty levels. In developing countries, wage levels tend to be stagnant. These income estimates assume that workers enjoy full employment, but seasonal slowdowns in demand, occasional plant closings, and occupational injuries reduce time on the job and hence reduce annual earnings.