Once upon a time, a well-paying professional career was almost guaranteed. It was the ticket to a middle class life. Look at the above table. In the 1980s and 90s, every sector experienced job growth except for operators, fabricators and laborers. In the next decade, growth slowed, but remained steady. However, starting in 2007, the same time that the housing bubble burst, there is a dramatic shift. The job growth disappears in most sectors; remaining stagnant or experiencing a net loss in jobs. No growth comes even a little close to the massive growth experienced in the 1980s. So does this demonstrate a decline in the middle class? The short answer is yes.
Here is the why: The 2008-2010ish recession (its length is debated) saw unemployment rise to 10% nationwide. And most sources indicate that when the jobs do come back, they won’t be coming back in force, or even to
Without these jobs that have supported the middle class, its decline makes more sense. For the middle class to survive in America (it is growing exponentially in developing countries) they will have to adapt to the new global economy. There needs to be better access to better education. There needs to be a change in the mindset that the future is guaranteed without much effort. And the focus needs to shift to healthcare. That’s where all the growth is.
http://www.theatlantic.com/business/archive/2011/02/the-future-of-the-middle-class/70492/
I agree, that "once upon a time" job abundance is long gone. This graph is a very effective way to demonstrate the decline of job growth in America, especially when coupled with your engaging and logical explanation. One thing is unclear to me though -- are all the job categories strictly middle class? The table doesn't seem to specify this, so it might be a good idea to add some clarification. Other than that, you make a persuasive argument. I particularly like how you address the effect of technology and outsourcing on the decline of jobs. And your suggested course of action is thought provoking, but is it necessary to your argument?
ReplyDeleteKitty, many apologies for the delay. Because you posted so early, your post actually was on a different page. It didn't print.
ReplyDeleteThis is well written and thought provoking - as Caeleigh mentions. Depending on how you structure your paper, you might be able to copy this directly into it. At this point, I'm slightly unsure about what your overall argument will be. Are you going to prove the decline of the middle class, for the reasons you list in your second paragraph, OR, are you going to prove that these reasons are the cause of the decline? If you choose the latter, you are probably just accepting the decline as given.
Does this make sense? I do think these are two different trains-of-thought. Just be sure that you follow a logical, probably linear, format.