Americans say job openings are increasing but wages aren't: Study

While Americans are positive about job creation and the economy, they have a less optimistic view about their income levels, a new study shows.

A recent survey conducted by The Pew Research Center found that nearly half of all Americans (49%) feel as though their family’s income is falling behind the average cost of living. Forty percent of those surveyed said their incomes were staying about even with cost of living increases, while only 9% felt like they were getting ahead.

So even while 50% of Americans said there are plenty of jobs available, and 42% viewed the current economic conditions as either good or excellent, a large share of people don’t feel like they are able to keep up with rising costs.

And these workers may have a point. A Bankrate.com study showed that, over the past year, more than half (52%) of American employees did not experience any wage increase at all. Meanwhile, the consumer price index for all items increased 2.2% during the 12 months ending in September, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

While the U.S. has added more than 1.6 million nonfarm payroll positions so far this year, wages have largely stagnated. According to data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, wages for civilian workers increased 2.5% for the 12-month period ending in September. For private workers, that number was marginally higher at 2.6% during the same time period.

Meanwhile, the average Social Security Cost-of-Living Adjustment (COLA) for the coming year is 2%, which amounts to $27 per month on average, per retiree. This is the highest COLA recipients have seen in years.

The Trump administration has acknowledged that wages are low for workers and subsequently claimed that their tax cut plan will create higher-paying job opportunities for Americans. However, as pointed out by The Washington Post, after President Ronald Reagan slashed the corporate tax rate in 1986, wages actually fell over the course of the next four years.