Upward mobility becoming rarer
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.The chances of climbing up the income scale from a low-paying job have shrunk dramatically during the past two decades. Figures on the earnings of individuals tracked over time show that fewer than one in four on low pay at the start of their working life in 1979 had reached the top half of the earnings distribution by 1994.
Only half had made any advance up the ladder at all, according to new research published this morning. The rest were either still at the bottom of the pile or had become unemployed.
There was even less progress for the unemployed. Nearly two-thirds of those who had been on benefit as young people in 1979 were still in the same position in 1994.
The research, based on figures published by the Department of Social Security for the first time last year, challenges Tory claims that greater income inequality has been offset by greater upward wage mobility. Richard Dickens, of the London School of Economics, writing for the Employment Policy Institute, says the claims ignore both moves into unemployment and the fact that most people whose incomes do rise do not move very far up the scale. Diane Coyle
Business Comment, page 21
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments