(Summer 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.

Contact Natalie Nava at 619-584-5744 x 24 or Natalie@OnlineCPI.org for more information or to order hard copies of Caring at a Cost.