By Isaac Cohen*
To judge by recently released figures by the Labor Department on salaries and income, there were not many reasons to celebrate on Labor Day in the United States. Adjusted for the present very low inflation rate of less than 2 percent, hourly pay for a worker employed in nonsupervisory and nongovernment activities has declined 0.9 percent, since the end of the recession in June 2009.
However, there are differences by sectors of economic activity and by earning groups. For instance, since 2009, hourly earnings have increased 0.9 percent in education and health. But workers employed in entertainment industries such as restaurants, of importance for Hispanics, have seen their paychecks decrease by 2.7 percent. Manufacturing hourly wages have also decreased by 3.1 percent. The Wall Street Journal described how restructuring the auto industry has led to new employees hired at half the salaries of older workers.
*International analyst and consultant. Commentator on economic and financial issues for CNN en Español TV and radio. Former Director, UNECLAC Washington Office.
