NPR

Why America's Wages Are Barely Rising

Economists say the pickup in wages has been sluggish. One possible reason is that high-earning baby boomers are leaving the workforce. And some people aren't looking to work because wages are too low.

Americans have been waiting for a solid pay raise for years. Maybe there's good news awaiting them as the country employs more people.

The U.S. economic recovery has gone on for eight long years, and the unemployment rate is at a low 4.4 percent. But wage gains have barely budged.

That's got economists scratching their heads.

Andrew Chamberlain, the chief economist at the jobs and recruiting

You’re reading a preview, subscribe to read more.

More from NPR

NPR3 min read
Japanese American Authors Tell Of WWII Experiences In New Collection
The collection features works by Japanese American authors impacted by the forced relocation of 125,000 Americans of Japanese ancestry by the U.S. government during World War II.
NPR2 min read
Embrace Olives: Recipes And Tips For Cooking With Different Varieties
You know the game you play where you have to name 10 foods you would bring to a desert island? When tasked with answering this complex question I always choose olives as one of my forever foods. They are meaty and briny, salty and complex. I love nea
NPR3 min read
Supreme Court Upholds Louisiana Redistricting Plan
A federal district court ruled that the new map drawn by the state legislature violated the Voting Rights Act by diluting the Black vote. A group of conservatives challenged the legislature's map.

Related Books & Audiobooks