Figure A
Real annual earnings of the bottom 90% only saw gains when the labor market was the tightest: Cumulative percent change in real annual earnings for the bottom 90%, 1979–2023
| Year | Bottom 90% | Bottom 90% | Bottom 90% | Bottom 90% |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1979 | 0.0% | |||
| 1980 | -2.2% | |||
| 1981 | -2.2% | |||
| 1982 | -3.0% | |||
| 1983 | -2.1% | |||
| 1984 | 0.4% | |||
| 1985 | 1.0% | |||
| 1986 | 3.0% | |||
| 1987 | 3.0% | |||
| 1988 | 2.6% | |||
| 1989 | 3.3% | |||
| 1990 | 2.6% | |||
| 1991 | 1.4% | |||
| 1992 | 2.4% | |||
| 1993 | 1.7% | |||
| 1994 | 3.5% | |||
| 1995 | 4.7% | 4.7% | ||
| 1996 | 5.2% | |||
| 1997 | 7.7% | |||
| 1998 | 12.1% | |||
| 1999 | 14.7% | |||
| 2000 | 15.6% | 15.6% | ||
| 2001 | 16.6% | |||
| 2002 | 17.2% | |||
| 2003 | 17.9% | |||
| 2004 | 19.0% | |||
| 2005 | 19.1% | |||
| 2006 | 20.9% | |||
| 2007 | 22.1% | |||
| 2008 | 21.6% | |||
| 2009 | 21.4% | |||
| 2010 | 21.3% | |||
| 2011 | 20.4% | |||
| 2012 | 21.0% | |||
| 2013 | 21.6% | 21.6% | ||
| 2014 | 23.7% | |||
| 2015 | 28.0% | |||
| 2016 | 29.2% | |||
| 2017 | 31.1% | |||
| 2018 | 33.6% | |||
| 2019 | 36.8% | |||
| 2020 | 37.1% | |||
| 2021 | 41.7% | |||
| 2022 | 42.4% | |||
| 2023 | 43.7% |
Source: EPI analysis of Kopczuk, Saez, and Song (2010, Table A3) and Social Security Administration wage statistics
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