Figure Q
Middle-wage workers have more experience and education than they did four decades ago: Average age and share of workers with a college degree or more in the middle fifth of the wage distribution, 1979--2019
| Year | % with college or more | Average age (years) |
|---|---|---|
| 1979 | 16.10% | 36.27 |
| 1980 | 16.91% | 36.04 |
| 1981 | 16.19% | 36.18 |
| 1982 | 17.92% | 36.62 |
| 1983 | 18.21% | 36.61 |
| 1984 | 18.02% | 36.47 |
| 1985 | 17.39% | 36.45 |
| 1986 | 17.83% | 36.47 |
| 1987 | 17.78% | 36.67 |
| 1988 | 17.32% | 36.52 |
| 1989 | 17.18% | 36.92 |
| 1990 | 17.91% | 36.90 |
| 1991 | 17.82% | 37.17 |
| 1992 | 17.29% | 37.34 |
| 1993 | 18.01% | 37.76 |
| 1994 | 17.96% | 37.91 |
| 1995 | 19.10% | 38.04 |
| 1996 | 18.91% | 38.22 |
| 1997 | 19.68% | 38.53 |
| 1998 | 20.19% | 38.50 |
| 1999 | 19.54% | 38.32 |
| 2000 | 19.82% | 38.92 |
| 2001 | 20.15% | 39.14 |
| 2002 | 21.56% | 39.80 |
| 2003 | 21.71% | 39.99 |
| 2004 | 21.70% | 40.16 |
| 2005 | 21.70% | 40.11 |
| 2006 | 23.45% | 40.47 |
| 2007 | 23.86% | 40.65 |
| 2008 | 24.73% | 40.78 |
| 2009 | 25.76% | 41.55 |
| 2010 | 26.52% | 41.88 |
| 2011 | 26.53% | 41.90 |
| 2012 | 26.72% | 42.12 |
| 2013 | 28.61% | 42.25 |
| 2014 | 29.81% | 41.97 |
| 2015 | 30.00% | 42.07 |
| 2016 | 29.31% | 42.02 |
| 2017 | 31.02% | 41.87 |
| 2018 | 31.32% | 41.83 |
| 2019 | 32.04% | 41.91 |
Source: EPI analysis of Current Population Survey Outgoing Rotation Group microdata from the U.S. Census Bureau
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