Wall Street Journal (03/07/12) James R. Hagerty

New college graduates comprise the demographic most likely to take the brunt of the downward pressure on wages in the current economic climate, according to the Economic Policy Institute. The average inflation-adjusted hourly wage for male college graduates in their 20s declined 11% over the past 10 years to $21.68 in 2011, while the average wage for female college graduates the same age has fallen 7.6% to $18.80. In contrast, the average inflation-adjusted hourly wage for production and nonsupervisory workers of all ages and education levels has risen 3% over the past 10 years, government figures indicate.