Trends, transitions, and subgroup differences on the pathway to a family-sustaining hourly wage for Minnesota students

Earning a family-sustaining hourly wage (FSHW) serves as an important indicator of a family’s economic well-being. In this study, we describe the educational pathways individuals take and explore whether or not these pathways led individuals to earn a FSHW as an adult. Until recently, understanding the specific pathways that lead to a FSHW has proven difficult, primarily due to a lack of longitudinal data at the individual level. To address this challenge, this study utilized a unique dataset, the Minnesota Statewide Longitudinal Education Data System (SLEDS). SLEDS offers researchers access to deidentified, individual-level educational and employment data that spans from kindergarten through employment, making it possible to examine the specific pathways that lead to a FSHW.