It’s hard to find an accurate view on the economy so many different things factor in and biases. I know for me personally the last 8 years have been pretty good in architecture/construction in Texas, but then I know manufacturing in Ohio and Michigan has been terrible which helped Trump win those states. I never felt like the economy was terrible but maybe I was lucky living in a bubble in Texas.
I know how you feel. It is not those with skills that have been really hurt but those that had the high paying manufacturing jobs that paid 40-60k to stand and watch a machine do most of the work. I’m in Industrial Maintenance and get 3 or 4 calls a week asking if I’m interest in a new job or can recommend someone