Press ReleaseMay 5, 2017

Jobs Day Numbers Convey It’s Time to Focus on High-Paying Careers

The economy is stronger, now focus needs to shift to growing wages and fighting for $50,000 careers

Atlanta—Today the Job Creators Network (JCN) highlights the perceived strength of the U.S. economy. According to a newly released report from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the unemployment rate dropped to 4.4 percent and 211,000 jobs were created in April. However, these economic indicators don’t convey the full narrative. While the U.S. job market is strong, wage growth remains sluggish—with wages only increasing by 0.27 percent.

The report’s low unemployment rate is a great sign for the U.S. economy. It reveals that the unemployment is at its lowest level since the Great Recession. So now that the jobs market is on stable footing, policymakers should pivot their focus to stagnate wages that are plaguing Main Streets across the country.

Part of the problem is the jobs that provide good middle-class wages are not being filled.

In fact, there are currently three million good paying job openings in this country waiting to be filled—the candidates just need to have the right skill set. This can be achieved through job or vocational training program expansions, as well as keeping the pathways open for young people to get on-the-job experience as entry level employees.

To further this pursuit, JCN has launched the Fight for $50 campaign—as in fighting for $50,000 careers, not job killing $15 mandates. By equipping people with the necessary skills and allowing them to gain job experience, those people who are currently unemployed or underemployed can get good paying jobs paying $50,000 or more a year.

“Now that the economy is showing signs of growth, it’s time to focus on raising the wages for Americans on Main Street,” said Alfredo Ortiz, the President and CEO of the Job Creators Network. “However, this won’t be accomplished my raising the minimum wage. That would only stifle those young people who are gaining vital work experience for future careers at entry-level jobs. Instead we need to focus on enhancing and expanding job and vocational training programs, so those who are unemployed or underemployed with lethargic wages will be able to gain the necessary skills to make comfortable livings for themselves and their families in the future. By maintaining and expanding these opportunities, wages will rise and those 3 million jobs that require semi-skilled workers will be filled.”