Study reveals more than 70% of workers believe current wages do not cover living costs

A new study reveals that more than 70% of workers in Chile believe their current salaries do not allow them to cover the cost of living. According to the Claves Ipsos survey conducted in August, 72% of respondents disagreed with the idea that current wages enable individuals to afford basic expenses. The findings highlight widespread dissatisfaction with employment conditions, with salary adequacy being the most cited concern among seven evaluated attributes of formal jobs. The survey, which interviewed 1,000 adults aged 18 and over during August 3–4, focused on work and employment issues in Chile. It found that only 9% of participants agreed that current wages suffice for daily life. The second most commonly mentioned issue was the availability of job opportunities, with 63% disagreeing that there are enough positions available for those seeking work. This sentiment was followed by concerns about career growth, with 57% expressing doubt that jobs frequently offer promotions or advancement opportunities. Other notable concerns included the ability to balance work with family and personal life, with 54% of respondents rejecting this notion, and job stability, with 52% disagreeing that most positions provide secure employment. The lowest level of disagreement was recorded regarding recent improvements in working conditions, with 47% believing conditions have not improved, compared to 24% who felt they had. Women were particularly affected, with 80% disagreeing that salaries meet living costs, versus 64% of men. Among those aged 30 to 50, the figure rose to 82%. Alejandra Ojeda, director of Public Studies at Ipsos Chile, noted that employment has become one of the main concerns for citizens, citing reduced job availability, greater difficulty in accessing positions, and critical evaluations of job quality, pay, and development prospects. When comparing perceptions to a year earlier, 68% of respondents believed finding work in Chile is more difficult today. Of these, 45% considered it significantly harder, while 23% thought it somewhat more challenging. Conversely, 10% saw it as easier, and 20% perceived no change. The perception of increased difficulty was even higher among unemployed individuals, reaching 78%, and among residents of the Metropolitan Region, it reached 73%. In terms of government priorities, the quality of employment and reduction of unemployment ranked fourth, with 29% of respondents selecting these as key concerns. This was behind crime (59%), health (37%), and inflation (30%). The issue was especially prominent among those who had recently lost their jobs, with 42% mentioning it as a priority, and among men, with 33%. Respondents were asked which groups face the greatest difficulty in securing employment despite meeting job requirements. The majority identified older individuals, with 87% indicating that people over 50 encounter the most challenges. Women with young children or elderly dependents came next, with 81% noting their struggles. Individuals with physical disabilities were also highlighted, with 79% agreeing that they face barriers. Young graduates with little experience, people from lower socioeconomic backgrounds, and women in general were also named as disadvantaged groups. Seventy-two percent of respondents believe women face greater difficulties in finding work than men, a view shared by 86% of women and 58% of men. Additionally, 53% of participants do not believe obtaining a university degree guarantees long-term access to high-quality employment, compared to 40% who hold this belief. Among the 671 employed individuals surveyed, 29% believe they are very or quite likely to lose their job within the next 12 months. This perception increases with age, reaching 34% among those 51 and older. Thirty-two% estimate the likelihood as low or very low. Thinking about potential job loss causes worry in 61% of employed individuals, with higher figures among women (68%) and residents of the Metropolitan Region (64%).