The American workplace is one of the most vibrant places of economic opportunity in the world. The U.S. Census Bureau reported in 2010 that the median household income in America was $52,000. That said, working in America does not come without challenges. The global economy has produced stagnating incomes, high levels of outsourcing and educational barriers to entry.
Income
Economics professor Tyler Cown reported in his book "The Great Stagnation" that the median income in the United States has risen 22 percent from 1973 to 2004, compared to 100 percent from 1947 to 1973. Furthermore, this trend has accelerated in the last decade. Workers today often must obtain additional certifications and specialized skills in order to give themselves a competitive advantage in the workplace.
Outsourcing
Globalization has made it easier for businesses to outsource their operations. While this process lowers prices for consumers, it reduces middle class job security. According to the United States Department of Agriculture, industries such as farming have seen their shares of American jobs fall from more than 70 percent to 2 percent in the last century. For a company with jobs that are easily automated, software or workers in developing countries can offer a cheaper alternative with little loss in quality.
Education
In America, having a college degree means better career opportunity. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reported in May 2011 that the unemployment rate of college graduates was 4.5 percent, compared to 14.5 percent for people who never graduated. This is problematic because the cost of college tuition has been rising sharply for several decades. According to Business Insider the rate of increase has been five times faster than the rate of inflation.
Skilled Labor
In addition to needing an education, you must also have industry-specific job skills that can take years to develop. The Population Bulletin describes demographic trends in the United States as moving away from low-skilled manufacturing jobs and toward high-skilled white collar jobs. It often takes workers decades to acquire the human capital necessary to become high wage earners in the United States. Success requires decades of training and hard work.
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