Wage theft now outnumbers all other types of theft in the U.S., reaching $482 million

More than 100 times the amount stolen in robberies.

Photo by Marek Studzinski on Unsplash

Wage Theft Eclipses All Other Theft Crimes in the United States

A staggering revelation has come to light — wage theft, the illegal practice of employers failing to pay workers their rightful wages, has surpassed all other forms of theft in the United States. In 2019, wage theft amounted to a staggering $482 million, dwarfing the mere $4.8 million lost to robberies that year — a difference of over 100 times.

This alarming statistic shines a spotlight on the widespread exploitation of workers, particularly those in low-wage industries and vulnerable communities. Wage theft takes many forms, including paying less than the minimum wage, denying overtime pay, forcing employees to work off the clock, and misclassifying workers as independent contractors to avoid providing benefits.