Russell Sage Foundation Quoted in Article on Men’s Salaries in Decline
American household income is rising, but it may not be time to pop the champagne yet. Especially if you're a male.
Men aren't just still earning less than they did before the recession started, but their incomes continue to shrink, according to the latest data from the Census Bureau. The trend is part of the reason the gender pay gap is narrowing: Women are earning more, but their male counterparts are losing ground.
Annual median income for men who work full time declined to $51,640 last year, or about 0.4 percent below their 2015 earnings. They represented the only major demographic group to lose income.
The trend may help explain why the labor participation rate for men continues to decline despite a stronger economy. Some men may not be finding the type of remunerative jobs that were once plentiful, such as in manufacturing or middle-skilled work, and are opting to sit on the sidelines.
"Men are doing worse than they were in 1973," said Sheldon Danziger, president of the Russell Sage Foundation, which focuses on poverty research. "Women's earnings are substantially higher, but men's earnings have declined." . . .