Ājīva is often translated as livelihood.
And it certainly has to do with livelihood; in the texts particulars of ājīva very often includes jobs. But also found are things like: ‘With right doing, right ājīva; with wrong doing, wrong ājīva’. Thus a foolish person has, in spite of their livelihood, the wrong ājīva.
So to put less emphasis on just income, we can look for an alternative. Jīva means life and the ā as prefix can indicate a transitive function, we then got living. But, especially since we are used to livelihood, living doesn't make it that much more clearer. We can also look at it as with ācāra:
Ācāra [ā + car] way of conduct
We then got with [ā+jīva] way of life. That a foolish person would have in spite of their livelihood a wrong way of life would make sense. And it does connect:
With right view, right attitude; with right attitude, right speech; with right speech, right doing; with right doing, right way of life.
Ājīva [ā+jīva] way of life.