Jobs Day Report is Strong, But Depicts Need for Higher Wages

Atlanta—Today the Job Creators Network (JCN) highlights the need for reforms that will lead to increased wages without placing the burden onto small business job creators. According to the newly released Bureau of Labor Statistics report, the unemployment rate was little changed at 4.4 percent and 222,000 jobs were added in June. However, average earnings only rose by 4 cents.

While job growth is strong and unemployment is low, the meager wage growth reveals the next economic hurdle we need to address. To increase wages, some have called for raising the minimum wage—but time after time, that move seems to worsen economic conditions. In fact, a new study out of the University of Washington reveals that Seattle’s $13 minimum wage has caused the average income of entry-level wage earners in the city to decrease by $125 a month—the opposite result of what was intended.

Instead, we need to equip people with the necessary skills to gain higher paying careers without a government mandate. That means encouraging young people to attend alternative higher education institutions—such as vocational or technical schools. Skills learned through these programs will allow those who are underemployed and unemployed to gain one of the currently available 6 million jobs in the U.S.—many paying upwards of $50,000.

Visit Fightfor50.com to learn more about fighting for $50,000 careers.

Alfredo Ortiz, President and CEO of JCN, released the following statement:

The strong jobs growth and low unemployment rate is a good sign for the U.S. economy. However, the weak wage growth reported in this month’s jobs report is a clear sign that there is still a systematic problem in the U.S. economy. Without strong wage increases, American earnings won’t be able to sustain their current purchasing power. By closing the skills gap and incentivizing more young people to attend vocational or technical schools—in lieu of traditional colleges—good paying job openings can be filled and wages will rise. That way businesses can produce at full capacity and individuals will have the opportunity to move up the career ladder.