People Better Get Used To Low-Wage Jobs

According to a new report by the Economic Policy Institute, the number of Americans in low-wage jobs, defined by wages at or below the poverty line, is expected to hold steady over the next decade. Currently, 28% of workers hold low-wage jobs in America – and by 2020 – that number will be the same. Curiously, the top industries that employ low-wage labor – are growing faster than the entire economy. What does that mean? It means that workers are no longer getting paid for their higher productivity. Instead, CEOs and executives are pocketing bigger and bigger paychecks – pushing wealth inequality to levels in America not seen since the Stock Market crash of 1929. As the Center for American Progress points out, the 50 companies that employ the most law-wage workers – CEOs raked in on average $9.4 million. The war on labor, the destruction of domestic industries through so-called free trade, and the enormous tax cuts for the rich are all contributing to this problem.