The working class is a concept that carries tremendous political weight. But there is no official definition of what it is, and popular views of a mostly white working class are out of date.
Over the past 50 years, increases in women’s participation in the labor force and immigration have resulted in more women, Hispanics, and Asian Americans in the workforce. New data below from a forthcoming EPI report show that the working class is more diverse than ever before—no matter how you define it.
When defined by education, the working class is nearly half workers of color
The traditional definition of the working class comprises workers with less than a bachelor’s degree. Under this definition, in 1979, the working class was over 80% white. Today, workers of color collectively account for nearly half of the working class.
Working class by race and ethnicity
- 52% white
- 26.8% Hispanic
- 15.1% Black
- 4.7% AAPI
- 1.4% Native American
Working class by gender
- 56.4% men
- 43.6% women
When defined by income, the working class is similarly diverse
The working class could reasonably include more college graduates and traditional “white-collar workers” than were previously considered. That’s because the wage boost from getting a college degree is lower than it used to be, and underemployment—along with racial and gender pay disparities—can mean the economic status of graduates of color and women is more like some nongraduates.
By this broader measure, the working class can be considered the bottom 75% of U.S. households, regardless of education level or job type. This works out to a family income of below $150,000 per year.
Under this definition, the working class remains similarly diverse in terms of race and ethnicity. While men are still a majority of the working class, a larger share of women fit within this definition of working class, given lower pay in jobs predominantly held by college-educated women.
Working class by race and ethnicity
- 53.1% white
- 24% Hispanic
- 15.2% Black
- 6.5% AAPI
- 1.2% Native American
Working class by gender
- 52.5% men
- 47.5% women
However you define it, today’s working class is diverse by race, ethnicity, and gender. Improving economic conditions for today’s working class requires policies that meet the needs of all these workers.
Source: Author’s analysis of pooled 2024–2025 Current Population Survey Basic Monthly Microdata from EPI Microdata Extracts, Version 2026.8.13, https://microdata.epi.org.