New college graduates earning less than a decade ago

Parents Forum
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<p>"Newly minted college graduates lucky enough to find a job after leaving school are in for a shock: They’ll likely be earning less money than they would have a decade ago.</p>

<p>Since 2000, these young workers have seen inflation-adjusted wages deteriorate, according to research by the Economic Policy Institute.</p>

<p>Here’s the math: In 2011, fresh college grads earned an average of $16.81 an hour, or about $35,000 a year. That’s down 5.4% from 2000. Women fared worse than men. Their wages declined 8.5% to $15.74 an hour over the same period while those of men dipped 1.6% to $18.29 an hour.</p>

<p>The decline means real money: roughly a $2,000 drop in annual earnings, according to EPI." ...</p>

<p>Further documentation on an unfortunate situation.</p>

<p>college</a> graduates earning less than a decade ago - latimes.com</p>

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<p>Old college graduates are earning less too!</p>

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<p>Has anybody noticed that there’s a recession on, the biggest economic downturn in three-quarters of century?</p>

<p>Think that might have something to do with it?</p>

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<p>They have to earn less- how else can the CEO’s earn more?</p>

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<p>Dave…</p>

<p>I found this commentary. This situation is depressing, but exactly as you describe: [The</a> Commencement Address That Won’t Be Given](<a href=“The Commencement Address That Won't Be Given | HuffPost College”>The Commencement Address That Won't Be Given | HuffPost College)</p>

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<p>Why would anyone think that this is news? Most of these kids have parents whose salaries have been stagnant for the past five years (if they even still have jobs at all).</p>

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<p>annasdad: Oh my God, there’s a recession???</p>

<p>This just in: Bill Clinton leaves office, scoffs at notion of dot.com bubble.</p>

<p>“Har har, bubbles. Makes me think of Monica. I just lined my golden parachute with some priceless WorldCom and Enron stock.”</p>

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<p>Dot-Com Bust, September 11th, and everything in 2008, I’m not surprised either. </p>

<p>However, from 2000-2010 (2010 is last year I had data from, but someone could probably come up with a good 2011 estimate) real GDP per-capita increased $2500 (bench was 1950 I think) (about 6.3%) so it’s not unreasonable to expect it should have gone up. The GINI index increased slightly from 2000 to 2010, but I think the bigger contributor is that the proportion of college grads relative to the population increased substantially.</p>