Low-wage job growth seen as hurdle to recovery...not enough jobs, those added aren't good ones

[Amerigo Vespucci]

Low-wage job growth seen as hurdle to recovery

http://chicagobreakingbusiness.com/2011/01/low-wage-job-growth-seen-as-hurdle-to-recovery.html

By CNN
Posted yesterday at 7:30 a.m.

There are two problems with the jobs recovery: Employers haven’t added enough jobs. And those they have added aren’t particularly good ones.

The former problem has gotten a lot of attention, with many economists and politicians talking about job growth averaging less than 100,000 a month last year, not enough to keep up with population growth or make a significant dent in unemployment.

But experts say the low-wage jobs that have been added are also a serious problem — putting downward pressure on wages and keeping consumer spending in check.

“Growth has been concentrated in mid-wage and lower-wage industries. By contrast, higher-wage industries showed weak growth and even net losses,” said Annette Bernhardt, policy co-director for the National Employment Project. She said that growth has been far more unbalanced than during previous job recoveries.