Having more job opportunities doesn’t always mean better prospects.

Over the past months, the job market has shown various facets. Job creation has been robust, offering a wide array of job openings across different professions. Losing a job might not be as daunting since finding another one isn’t too challenging. Unemployment rates have been notably low, which is positive. However, this doesn’t paint the full picture.

Despite the abundance of job opportunities, the quality of available jobs is a cause for concern. Simply having more jobs doesn’t necessarily benefit working-class families struggling to make ends meet with just one or two jobs, even if they are full-time or substantial part-time roles. While job security seems stable, the pay often falls short.

In June, hourly wage earners saw only a modest six-cent hike in their pay. Many available jobs offer minimum wage or even less, making it clear that a family can’t sustain itself on such income. Surprisingly, there are more job openings than workers seeking them. This disparity is stark when contrasted with the lucrative salaries of top executives and CEOs in large corporations, who often earn six-figure incomes, at the least.

Despite lower unemployment rates nationwide, having a job doesn’t necessarily equate to contentment. With the cost of living and homeownership on the rise, stagnant hourly wages could leave many workers struggling to support their families or at risk of losing their homes.