"To earn a livelihood" means to work or engage in activities in order to make enough money or income to sustain oneself and meet the basic needs of life, such as food, shelter, and other necessities. Full definition
Further, Tropical Salvage employs people in wood salvage business activities who might otherwise earn livelihoods from illegal logging, illegal mining, and illegal poaching — activities that can deplete forests and rare animal species. (tropicalsalvage.com)
This decision has created dismay among the numerous persons who earn a livelihood by collecting snails for market. (scientificamerican.com)
I'll travel throughout the state, meeting with Alaskans who live above the Arctic Circle, with Alaska natives, and with folks who earn their livelihoods through fishing and tourism. (obamawhitehouse.archives.gov)