U.S. unemployment rates have dropped to 3.9% – the lowest they have been since 4% in the year 2000, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. While many are hoping this will spur the kind of economic growth industries have been working toward since the market crash in 2008, citing both overall job growth in professional industries and the national 2.7% annual increase in wages this year, the issue is far more complex. Real wages in service and retail industries are still not very viable, and many people are being forced to work two jobs just to keep up with an otherwise “booming” economy. Much of the reported “growth” over several reported periods is from an averaged .3-.6 percent increase in work-week rather than wage increases x.

With a growing wealth disparity between the upper and middle classes and shrinking difference between lower and middle class, it is difficult to find the impact of this change in everyday life.

A shrinking unemployment rate also fails to factor in the quality of jobs held, and poor work conditions can result in an overexerted and high-stress population. With the rise of U.S. and UK based Amazon Factories, the detrimental effects of overly-strict work policies and economic desperation on workers becomes clear.

A low unemployment rate and slow rise in real wages and work week time is not a complete solution, but will hopefully be the start of a trend that will continue as more young people join the workforce and engage in economic participation.

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