SI
SI
discoversearch

We've detected that you're using an ad content blocking browser plug-in or feature. Ads provide a critical source of revenue to the continued operation of Silicon Investor.  We ask that you disable ad blocking while on Silicon Investor in the best interests of our community.  If you are not using an ad blocker but are still receiving this message, make sure your browser's tracking protection is set to the 'standard' level.
Politics : PRESIDENT GEORGE W. BUSH

 Public ReplyPrvt ReplyMark as Last ReadFilePrevious 10Next 10PreviousNext  
To: MKTBUZZ who started this subject1/23/2004 2:15:08 PM
From: Kenneth E. Phillipps  Read Replies (1) of 769670
 
Gap in Wages Growing Again for U.S. Workers
Friday, January 23, 2004 12:48 AM ET Printer-friendly version

WASHINGTON -- Wage inequality -- the gap between America's highest and lowest earners -- has started widening again, a situation with election-year ramifications, Friday's Wall Street Journal reported.

The trend is a reflection of the job market's exceptionally weak response to the current economic recovery, as well as long-term technological and economic changes that have eroded the bargaining power of America's lowest-paid workers. The data show that young workers -- who currently have fewer job prospects than a few years ago -- and men, in particular, are bearing the brunt.

New data from the Labor Department show that after adjustment for inflation, salaries of the country's lowest-paid workers -- those who fall just inside the bottom 10% of the pay range -- fell 0.3% last year from 2002. Meanwhile, the salaries of the highest paid workers -- those who are just inside the top 10% -- were unchanged. The divergence appeared to grow in the fourth quarter as higher- paid workers gained ground and lower-paid workers slipped further, based on comparisons with original year-earlier data that are subject to revision.

The numbers continue a movement to greater wage inequality that began around the time President Bush succeeded President Clinton and the economy slid into recession three years ago. The trend represents a reversal from the late 1990s, when the lowest unemployment rates in a generation had enabled the lowest-paid workers to keep pace with those at the top.

Wall Street Journal Staff Reporter Greg Ip contributed to this report.


quicken.com
Report TOU ViolationShare This Post
 Public ReplyPrvt ReplyMark as Last ReadFilePrevious 10Next 10PreviousNext