Wall Street Journal (11/11/13) Ben Casselman
The jobs recovery in the U.S. has unfolded unevenly, in a manner both longer-lasting than in previous recessions and which lately has been growing worse. For those with decent jobs, wages are slowly rising and job security is high. For the young, the less-educated, and the unemployed, the recovery seems not to have arrived at all.
Hiring is weak, job security is low, wage growth is low, and many positions are part-time. Consumer spending has increased for the upper levels of the economy, but this has only boosted upper-end production, leaving the companies that employ disaffected groups with little demand. This holds down overall consumer spending, because many households are only spending on essentials. The adult labor participation rate is at a 35-year low.