An exodus of workers from low-wage professions, including hairstylists and customer service representatives, has pushed up wages for those who remain, a snapshot of the U.S. economy shows.
The “Great Resignation,” which saw 4.5 million Americans a month quit their jobs in the wake of the pandemic, has forced wages down more than 20 percent for some this year.
Hairstylists took home just $34,300 this year, but that's still 22 percent more than last year, while salaries for customer service assistant managers rose more than anyone else, up 24 percent to $44,200.
Master plumbers, auto body repairers and job coaches are at the back of the list with a 21 percent increase each according to Payscale.com's analysis
“The shift in values that took place during the pandemic is not transient,” the report noted.
“Although the economy has softened and the Great Resignation has ended, its spirit is still very much alive.
The study analyzed data from 774,000 U.S. workers and the Bureau of Labor Statistics to find the largest wage increases among U.S. occupations
A decline in the number of people willing to listen to complaints all day pushed wages for customer service assistant managers to the top of the list, rising 24 percent by 2023
'Workers have languished under high inflation and stressful working conditions and are unwilling to make concessions on fair pay and welfare.'
Master plumbers were the highest-paid professionals in the top ten for wage growth, with their average salary of $82,700 due in part to a decline in American DIY skills.
And customer service positions are “abundant” in retail, with high turnover and a revolving door of new starts.
“Customer service centers can be a stressful work environment, often leading people to look for better jobs with higher incomes once they acquire the required skills.”
The research shows that the number of freelance or self-employed jobs has increased by 400,000 compared to five years ago.
And some of them are on the list for big pay increases, with fitness coaches seeing a 19 percent jump to $51,100.
“Most of the positions on this list represent jobs that are highly flexible and where professionals can be self-employed, working for themselves rather than for a company,” the report concluded.
And layoffs among hairstylists during the pandemic have led to continued workforce shortages as people left the profession for good
The data collected from more than 774,000 American workers will be welcomed by Joe Biden, who has made growing the economy “from the bottom up” a cornerstone of his economic policy.
The president complained about negative media coverage of the economy when he went to Camp David on Christmas Day and demanded they “start covering it properly.”
But the American middle class isn't having much of a good time, as white-collar employers become “extremely picky” and look for “magic unicorns” who have all the required skills, rather than investing in training.
“As the economy slowed, many workers were laid off, especially knowledge workers in the technology industry,” the report's authors concluded.
“Those who are still working are feeling the constant threat of layoffs and these stressors are driving more people to look for jobs.
“But vacancies are declining and hiring has slowed, leading to frenzied competition among job seekers. That's the opposite of what employers experienced when they tried to hire two years ago.”
A decline in Americans' DIY skills has helped land master plumbers with a 21 percent pay increase to an average wage of $82,700 by 2023
And roofers rose on the list with a 19 percent increase to $51,700
The “great resignation” of the pandemic years has not completely disappeared and remains pronounced in healthcare
Healthcare roles make up six of the top 15 jobs that workers want to leave, with 62 percent of phlebotomists actively looking to work for someone else.
And young people are also feeling the rough end of the economy, with new graduates at a “severe disadvantage” compared to older workers as companies cut back on training.
“Many organizations are unwilling to take a risk on untrained talent, and many organizations don't even post 'real' entry-level jobs, requiring years of experience even for jobs labeled as entry-level.” Pay rate reported.
“In a job market where it's difficult for even seasoned professionals to qualify, finding a job feels hopeless for recent graduates. Many of them have stopped trying.”