News & Events

Even now, in 2022, women and particularly women of color continue to make significantly less than white male counterparts in the workforce, across all industries. In fact on August 3, as communities across the country mark Black Women’s Equal Pay Day, we know that Black women earn 58 cents for…

Just Economics announces our 2022 Living Wage Rate as $17.70/hr (with or without health insurance) In 2021, Just Economics reassessed our formula for determining the living wage. The last time we did that was in 2011, and this is a practice we intend to continue at least every 10 years….

Just Economics is hiring a full time Housing and Wages Organizer. Apply by January 7th at the link at the end of this post. Job Description: Just Economics of Western North Carolina (JE) is a regional, membership organization based in Asheville, NC. Our mission is to educate, advocate, and organize…

Join us for a fun and interactive virtual event celebrating our work over this year! We’ll play an interactive game and close out the year as a community. You can also expect and awesome collection of raffle prizes. Whether you have been around Just Economics for a while or new…

The week of November 15th-21st is International Living Wage Week! Living Wage Week is a big deal in countries like the UK, and Just Economics is excited to partner with the National Living Wage Network and Living Wage for US to bring Living Wage Week to the United States in…

This Labor Day, a year and a half into a global pandemic, twelve years into a minimum wage of $7.25 and decades into growing income inequality in this nation. Isn’t it time?  Isn’t it time to not just honor the workers who make our society work with a holiday but…

Tuesday, May 25th, the Asheville City Manager’s budget was introduced and June 8th, the public will get a chance to weigh in on the budget during the public hearing. The final vote on the City of Asheville’s budget for the fiscal year beginning July 1st, will take place on June…

The cost of living in Asheville and the surrounding area has been a regular topic of conversation on social media, in the press, and around our office. At Just Economics, we run a voluntary Living Wage Certification Program that certifies (and then recertifies every two years) employers who voluntarily pay…

I moved to Asheville from the Piedmont of NC in 2008 to go to college at UNC Asheville. I rented my first house in 2009 in Montford, a two bedroom house for $900 which at the time felt EXPENSIVE, so after bringing in an extra roommate for a while to…

Just Economics has relaunched our Living Wage Certification program and reopened our application for Living Wage Certification!

We’ve added a new page to our website that features a new issue each week and a couple of way to engage with that issue. We’re also launching a video series called, Policy Minuet. Each week, we will release a new, 60 second video about a current policy issue. Check…

Just Economics is hiring for a part-time Office Administrator (approximately 20 hours a week). This job will initially be remote. Once it is safe to return to work in person, this job will take place in our Asheville office. See the job description below. To apply, fill out the google application and…

Each November, Just Economics reassesses the Buncombe County Living Wage Rate based on Federal Fair Market Rent data released by HUD. In 2020, the living wage rate was calculated at $15.50/hour or $14.00/hour with employer provided health benefits. All new businesses in 2020 were certified at that rate, but Just…

Community Resources For Buncombe County Information and Resources from Buncombe County Mutual Aid: BeLoved COVID-19 response Facebook Group:  Asheville Survival Program Internet Access: Comcast: https://www.internetessentials.com/covid19#gethelp&all_Pricingandotherinfo Spectrum: https://www.spectrum.net/support/internet/assistance-communities-need/ Food Assistance in Buncombe County Mental Health: National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) Helpline:800-950-NAMI, info@nami.org Transit:  COVID related updates at Asheville Transit: https://www.ashevillenc.gov/department/transit…

Join us on December 3rd for our first ever Virtual Annual Celebration! It will be an hour filled with celebration, trivia, music and inspiration!Just Economics’ Annual CelebrationDecember 3rd 6:30-7:30 Register for FREE here: http://bit.ly/JEannualcelebration2020 While it is a new thing that our Annual Celebration will be virtual, we promise to…

Hello Friends, Fall is here and Just Economics is proud to share some new changes we’ve been working on for awhile now. It’s been a tough year and the work of Economic Justice has never been more important than it is today.  As a community, we know there is power…

As a 501(c)3 organization, Just Economics is nonpartisan and does not endorse or oppose any political candidate or party. We do; however, support everyone’s right to vote! This year we’re partnering with Jenna from Patton Ave Pet Company and Democracy NC to get out the vote!  Check out VoteAVL.org for…

10 Easy Ways to Support Western North Carolina Workers Around Labor Day Show your appreciation for working people through our pandemic version of Love Letters to Workers. So many people from grocery workers to CNAs have put their health at risk, working through this pandemic with low wages and little…