As the primary source of income and economic security for most Americans, jobs and wages affect a person’s prospects for upward mobility. Rewarding work provides a reliable income source to help people build savings and better weather life’s challenges, but it’s not just about wages. Rewarding work also enables people to gain skills and experience so they can advance to higher-paying jobs, build wealth, support their families, and improve their children’s prospects. It also helps a person feel accomplished, dignified, and that they have autonomy and power over their life.