>> As to the “wages appear not to be rising” I am not sure where you are looking, everything I see on the professional viewpoint is that companies are struggling to find workers and wages are rising as a necessity. <<
Uh... BLS data shows wages perfectly flat as of LAST MONTH’s data, adjusted for inflation. This month showed a 0.35% rise, BEFORE the inflation is known. That’ll probably show some real wage growth.
That’s not to say the Trump economy is failing: this lack of wage growth is because the workforce is accomodating a BOOM of 2.4 million new workers in the past year, all of whom probably earn below the median. Once the number of employees stabilizes, you’ll probably see wage growth. Until then, there are tens of thousands of employers offering minimum wage in markets where the cost of living is several times that, complaining they can’t find American workers.
Industry and employers have been in the wage driver seat for so long they forgot how to treat workers sellers market.
And for those offering Minimum wage the challenges will continue as people will not take those positions and the numbers will rise.