A new study from Florida International University suggests the middle class is shrinking in the state of Florida.
The State of Working Florida Report for 2016 was just released this week.
It shows from 2009 to 2014, the middle class shrank from 50.8% to 49.1%. Both the working class and the upper class both got bigger.
The report suggests this is because there are fewer middle-income jobs that facilitate upward mobility. It also says people are getting stuck in low paying jobs.
The study defines a middle income household as earning $39,275, upper class as $118,847, and working class as $12,098.
Leslie Jacoby, a retired school psychologist, says she sees the disparity. She says, "I think it is too unbalanced now. People have too much or too little and the happy medium is dwindling."
Neil McKenzie is unemployed and looking for a job. He says it is hard to find something that pays enough to pay his bills.
