Why Are Workers Getting Less While CEOs Get Richer Despite Rising Productivity? --- Income inequality in the United States has been growing for decades, and workers are getting a smaller share of the country's income even though productivity is rising. According to data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the percentage of national income going to non-farm workers dropped from 64.1% in 2001 to just 55.8% in early 2024. This means workers are earning less compared to the total income generated by the economy[8]. Low-wage workers at companies like Starbucks, Target, McDonald's, and airport

contractors often earn very little, while CEOs and top executives make millions. Since 1978, CEO pay has increased by 1,209%, but typical worker pay has only gone up by about 15.3%. From 1979 to 2022, wages for the richest 1% grew 171%, while wages for the bottom 90% rose only 33%. The richest 0.1% have gained a bigger share of income, while the bottom 90% have lost ground[4]. Productivity, or how much workers produce, increased by 60% from 1979 to 2019, but worker pay only grew 16%. This shows that workers are not getting their fair share of economic growth. Meanwhile, the federal minimum

wage has stayed at $7.25 since 2009 and has lost 29% of its value because of inflation. This creates a tough situation where low wages stagnate even as companies make more money and become more productive[8]. The result is a big gap between rich and poor, with executive pay soaring and worker income shrinking. Despite rising corporate profits, most workers see little benefit, leading to growing inequality and economic hardship for many Americans[4][8]. Citations: [1] https://www.stlouisfed.org/community-development-research/the-state-of-us-wealth-inequality [2]

https://www.statista.com/statistics/203961/wealth-distribution-for-the-us/ [3] https://www.census.gov/topics/income-poverty/income-inequality.html [4] https://inequality.org/facts/income-inequality/ [5] https://www.census.gov/library/publications/2024/demo/p60-282.html [6] https://www.cfr.org/backgrounder/us-inequality-debate [7] https://wid.world/news-article/10-facts-on-global-inequality-in-2024/ [8] https://www.bls.gov/osmr/research-papers/2022/pdf/ec220060.pdf --- #IncomeInequality #WorkerWages #CEOCompensation #ProductivityGap #MinimumWage #EconomicJustice #FairPay #WageStagnation #CorporateProfits #LaborIncomeShare #LivingWageNow ---

#IncomeInequality #WorkerWages #CEOCompensation #ProductivityGap #MinimumWage #EconomicJustice #FairPay #WageStagnation #CorporateProfits #LaborIncomeShare #LivingWageNow