Well-Paid Benefit Most as Economy Flourishes

[MountainLaurel]

The economy has been flourishing? :wtf: :shrug:


Wages are rising more than twice as fast for highly paid workers in the Washington area as they are for low-paid workers, an analysis of federal data by The Washington Post shows.

That means the spoils of the region's economic expansion are going disproportionately to workers who are already well-paid, widening a gap between rich and poor in a place where it is already wider than in most of the country.

Businesspeople cite shifts in the world economy that give educated workers leverage to negotiate for higher wages but make low-paid workers replaceable -- a disparity that is especially pronounced in a service economy like Washington's.

The region's economy is strong and businesses are expanding, hiring more software engineers, financial analysts, salespeople and other skilled workers, thus bidding up their pay. But companies are simultaneously finding ways to automate clerical tasks, move call centers to cheaper places and handle business online, weakening demand for less-skilled workers.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/07/09/AR2006070900914.html

[Juffo Wup]

1. Benefits are getting worse as well

Beyond wages, health insurance is getting ridiculous - I work for a multi-billion dollar defense contractor, yet I pay $200 a month in health insurance premiums and about $300 more in co-pays and not-covered items. And I'm in the professional ranks (engineering), God knows how the grunts are being ripped off who do the real work.

[Virginia Dare]

2. The gap between rich and poor widens...

I can't think of anything positive that will come of it.

See this post. The perps who murdered this guy were obviously out hunting for rich people

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x2716118

[Norquist Nemesis]

3. I guess we shouldn't worry about the $135,000 per year line

workers at GM.

:sarcasm:

[amandabeech]

4. And the Chimp wonders why folks don't believe

that the economy is doing so well.

[MountainLaurel]

5. Since 95 percent of the folks aren't affected

It makes sense, doesn't it?

:hi:

[amandabeech]

6. I think that more than 5% are affected or have been affected

by the failure of the economy to generate decently paid full-time permanent jobs with benefits.

[MountainLaurel]

7. Oh no, I meant the opposite

That the 95 percent hasn't been effected by this economic rebound that we've all been hearing about, which is the point of the article.

[amandabeech]

9. Now I understand! Thanks!

[Egalitariat]

8. Don't the well paid ALWAYS benefit the most?****

nm