Stagnant or declining wages for less-educated workers make policies to upgrade the job market options for low wage workers an urgent priority. One in three low wage workers lives in a low income family. The link between low basic skills and low wages is strong. No single standard of minimum skill requirements applies to all middle income jobs, and rewarding careers require the ability to use sets of skills rather than individual skills in isolation. Employers want to ensure that training is effective and need more evidence linking training and profitability. Income supports that encourage work while raising family income are important. Among them are food stamps, Medicaid, expanded unemployment insurance, and the Earned Income Tax Credit. (Contains 10 references.) (KC)