Class and Immiseration Illustrated

Using Current Population Survey (CPS) data, I conduct an inductive exploration of the change in immiseration for working persons in the United States, 2003 to 2025. Four measures are tracked: Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefit usage, Medicare usage, workplace pension non-participation, and underemployment. Trends for each measure are decomposed along five occupation-based class groupings. Data patterns reveal intensified immiseration over the period for all groups, which is confirmed by logit regression analyses. Lower-class occupations fared worse overall; however, there is a trend toward class convergence on food insecurity and workplace pension non-participation. Potential causes and implications for policy and electoral politics are discussed.