That means his barely surviving. Let's say his salary back then 5 years ago was $2000 after tax and was leaving an average life, no struggle to pay bills but today, the salary he earns is now $1300 after tax and the price of goods and services has 2x from five years ago, that means the money he is been paid at work wouldn't be able to pay up his bills and would probably be having outstanding payment or have loan to cushion his bills.

It's either your colleague step up his hustling spirit and have a side gig to complement the salary or he should write applications to other places to get a job that will give him higher pay, she shouldn't quit though because that would be one of the worse decision he would probably make in this hard times.