After adjusting for inflation, wages are higher than at any point in U.S. history, and after adjusting for age and sex, the percentage of the population that is employed is around its peak in U.S. history.

  • Tyrangle@lemmy.world
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    16 days ago

    I do find it interesting that the “actual” employment rate was 7% higher in 2000 than it is now. I get that we have an older population now, and proportionally more retirees as a result, but isn’t that relevant to our economic health? Rather than patting ourselves on the back for doing a good job despite an aging population, shouldn’t we be talking about how to turn this trend around? Italy, Japan, and China are about a generation ahead of us on this issue, and they’re totally freaking out - maybe we should too.

    • givesomefucks@lemmy.world
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      16 days ago

      Yeah, the truth is it’s not that hard to find the right boxes to check as metrics that you can find any result you want.

      Which is obviously what they did, they couldn’t even stop it with a 54 age cap (who the fuck retires at 55?) they had to raise the minimum to 25, well after normal college grad age.

      Even without getting into the organization and funding, anyone that actually learned about stats in a real stats class can you tell you it’s being done to generate the results the funders want.

      We really need to start teaching statistical analysis in highschool. I can’t remember the last time I needed something past algebra, but stats comes up all the fucking time, and almost no one really knows the basics.

      It’s not even that complicated, but admittedly I had an amazing professor and took a couple courses.

      • Flocklesscrow@lemm.ee
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        16 days ago

        A more educated populace is the last thing anyone at the top of the ladder wants.

        We’re backsliding to Company Stores, chits, and union workers facing violence for their workplace rights. “Corporate interests” have undone the social contract.