It has been verified that real wages for the American workforce have risen under the leadership of Biden-Harris, with inflation now being less of a concern. The most recent report from the Bureau of Labor Statistics shows that the average hourly pay for production and nonsupervisory workers, who make up the majority of employees, reached $30.27 in August.

After analyzing the data, it is evident that the wages of working-class Americans, adjusted for inflation, have slightly surpassed their levels from Election Day in 2020. This increase allows the average working-class American to affirmatively answer whether they are better off now compared to the previous administration led by Donald Trump.

This milestone in real wages is not only significant for political reasons but also helps explain why Americans were feeling the negative impact of inflation. While the prices of essentials like food and housing are crucial, they become even more critical if the cost surges surpass the growth in wages.

Inflation-adjusted wages, also known as “real” wages, are an essential indicator of economic well-being as they represent the equilibrium between pay raises and price escalations. The decrease in average real wages during 2021 and 2022 due to inflation was a significant challenge for President Biden’s economic strategy but has now been mitigated by the recent surge in real wages.

The recent increase in wages is evident nationwide and across various industries. Notable areas showing substantial real wage growth include the food service and accommodations sector, as well as the warehousing industry, which includes e-commerce fulfillment facilities.

Several swing states have experienced notable wage hikes, surpassing the national inflation rate, with Georgia, Michigan, Nevada, North Carolina, and Wisconsin exhibiting weekly wage gains of over 3.5% in the past year.

The rise in real wages is highlighted by the revival of U.S. productivity levels, which have exceeded the levels seen in 2020. This resurgence is attributed to a combination of robust government and corporate investments, as driven by policies like the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, the CHIPS and Science Act, and the Inflation Reduction Act, among others.

The support for increased investment by the Biden-Harris administration has led to substantial growth in federal nondefense investment and domestic investments by large corporations, all contributing to heightened productivity levels and a rise in real wages. This trend is anticipated to persist in the future, bolstering economic prosperity and opportunity for all Americans.