Recently someone claimed that Obama’s record on wages was nearly as good as Trump’s record. I went through every BLS jobs report going back to March 2011 and looked at numbers going back to March 2010, since BLS reports include numbers for the preceding 12 months. I would have gone back earlier, but I knew some liberals would claim it was too early in the Obama recovery, even though Obama’s recovery supposedly began in June 2009. I started the comparison at March 2010, nine months after the official beginning of Obama’s recovery, to remove any possibility of whining about an unfair comparison.
Let’s start with Trump’s numbers. Since March 2017, wages have risen by 3.2%. In February 2017, they rose by 2.8%, and from March 2017 until last month, they have risen by 3.2%.
February 2017: 2.8%
March 2017 – March 2018: 3.2%
April 2018 – April 2019: 3.2%
Those numbers are substantially higher than they were under Obama. Here are the increases under Obama—I chose several 12-month ranges to give a fair picture:
March 2010 – March 2011: 1.7%
June 2010 – June 2011: 1.9%
December 2010 – December 2011: 2.1%
December 2011 – December 2012: 2.1%
December 2012 – December 2013: 1.8%
December 2013 – December 2014: 1.7%
December 2014 – December 2015: 2.5%
January 2016 – January 2017: 2.5%
So Obama’s best two years never topped 2.5%. In November 2014, the Republicans retook control of the House and held their majority in the Senate. So the business and financial sectors now knew that adults were in charge of Congress and that Obama would be unable to get any harmful economic legislation passed. In 2015, Obama reluctantly signed the two-year budget deal compromise that made the Bush tax cuts permanent and that provided for $700 billion in tax breaks.
From March 2010 to March 2011, wages grew by just 1.7%, and wages of production and non-supervisory employees actually dropped by 2 cents per hour.
March 2011 report
https://www.bls.gov/news.release/archives/empsit_04012011.pdf
In March, average hourly earnings for all employees on private nonfarm payrolls were unchanged at $22.87. Over the past 12 months, average hourly earnings have increased by 1.7 percent. Average hourly earnings of private-sector production and nonsupervisory employees edged down by 2 cents over the month to $19.30. (See tables B-3 and B-8.)
From June 2010 to June 2011, wages rose by just 1.9%.
From December 2010 to December 2011, wages rose by 2.1%, but wages for production and non-supe jobs remained unchanged.
From December 2011 to December 2012, wages rose by 2.1%.
From December 2012 to December 2013, wages rose by just 1.8%.
From December 2013 to December 2014, wages rose by just 1.7%.
From December 2014 to December 2015, wages rose by 2.5%.
From January 2016 to January 2017, wages rose by an 2.5%, Note that this was after Obama had agreed to make most of the Bush tax cuts permanent, after the Republicans took control of both chambers of Congress, and after Obama signed the 2015 compromise spending bill that included over $700 billion in tax breaks.
Another fertile for comparison is the wages of production and non-supervisory employees, but that’s a subject for another OP.
Let’s start with Trump’s numbers. Since March 2017, wages have risen by 3.2%. In February 2017, they rose by 2.8%, and from March 2017 until last month, they have risen by 3.2%.
February 2017: 2.8%
March 2017 – March 2018: 3.2%
April 2018 – April 2019: 3.2%
February 2017
https://www.bls.gov/news.release/archives/empsit_03102017.pdf
In February, average hourly earnings for all employees on private nonfarm payrolls increased by 6 cents to $26.09, following a 5-cent increase in January. Over the year, average hourly earnings have risen by 71 cents, or 2.8 percent. In February, average hourly earnings of private-sector production and nonsupervisory employees increased by 4 cents to $21.86 in February. (See tables B-3 and B-8.)
March 2018 report
Employment Situation News Release
In March, average hourly earnings for all employees on private nonfarm payrolls rose by 4 cents to $27.70, following a 10-cent gain in February. Over the past 12 months, average hourly earnings have increased by 3.2 percent. Average hourly earnings of private-sector production and nonsupervisory employees increased by 6 cents to $23.24 in March. (See tables B-3 and B-8.)
April 2019 report
https://www.bls.gov/news.release/pdf/empsit.pdf
In April, average hourly earnings for all employees on private nonfarm payrolls rose by 6 cents to $27.77. Over the year, average hourly earnings have increased by 3.2 percent. Average hourly earnings of private-sector production and nonsupervisory employees increased by 7 cents to $23.31 in April. (See tables B-3 and B-8.)
https://www.bls.gov/news.release/archives/empsit_03102017.pdf
In February, average hourly earnings for all employees on private nonfarm payrolls increased by 6 cents to $26.09, following a 5-cent increase in January. Over the year, average hourly earnings have risen by 71 cents, or 2.8 percent. In February, average hourly earnings of private-sector production and nonsupervisory employees increased by 4 cents to $21.86 in February. (See tables B-3 and B-8.)
March 2018 report
Employment Situation News Release
In March, average hourly earnings for all employees on private nonfarm payrolls rose by 4 cents to $27.70, following a 10-cent gain in February. Over the past 12 months, average hourly earnings have increased by 3.2 percent. Average hourly earnings of private-sector production and nonsupervisory employees increased by 6 cents to $23.24 in March. (See tables B-3 and B-8.)
April 2019 report
https://www.bls.gov/news.release/pdf/empsit.pdf
In April, average hourly earnings for all employees on private nonfarm payrolls rose by 6 cents to $27.77. Over the year, average hourly earnings have increased by 3.2 percent. Average hourly earnings of private-sector production and nonsupervisory employees increased by 7 cents to $23.31 in April. (See tables B-3 and B-8.)
Those numbers are substantially higher than they were under Obama. Here are the increases under Obama—I chose several 12-month ranges to give a fair picture:
March 2010 – March 2011: 1.7%
June 2010 – June 2011: 1.9%
December 2010 – December 2011: 2.1%
December 2011 – December 2012: 2.1%
December 2012 – December 2013: 1.8%
December 2013 – December 2014: 1.7%
December 2014 – December 2015: 2.5%
January 2016 – January 2017: 2.5%
So Obama’s best two years never topped 2.5%. In November 2014, the Republicans retook control of the House and held their majority in the Senate. So the business and financial sectors now knew that adults were in charge of Congress and that Obama would be unable to get any harmful economic legislation passed. In 2015, Obama reluctantly signed the two-year budget deal compromise that made the Bush tax cuts permanent and that provided for $700 billion in tax breaks.
From March 2010 to March 2011, wages grew by just 1.7%, and wages of production and non-supervisory employees actually dropped by 2 cents per hour.
March 2011 report
https://www.bls.gov/news.release/archives/empsit_04012011.pdf
In March, average hourly earnings for all employees on private nonfarm payrolls were unchanged at $22.87. Over the past 12 months, average hourly earnings have increased by 1.7 percent. Average hourly earnings of private-sector production and nonsupervisory employees edged down by 2 cents over the month to $19.30. (See tables B-3 and B-8.)
From June 2010 to June 2011, wages rose by just 1.9%.
June 2011 report
https://www.bls.gov/news.release/archives/empsit_07082011.pdf
In June, average hourly earnings for all employees on private nonfarm payrolls decreased by 1 cent to $22.99. Over the past 12 months, average hourly earnings have increased by 1.9 percent. In June, average hourly earnings of private-sector production and nonsupervisory employees declined by 1 cent to $19.41. (See tables B-3 and B-8.)
https://www.bls.gov/news.release/archives/empsit_07082011.pdf
In June, average hourly earnings for all employees on private nonfarm payrolls decreased by 1 cent to $22.99. Over the past 12 months, average hourly earnings have increased by 1.9 percent. In June, average hourly earnings of private-sector production and nonsupervisory employees declined by 1 cent to $19.41. (See tables B-3 and B-8.)
From December 2010 to December 2011, wages rose by 2.1%, but wages for production and non-supe jobs remained unchanged.
December 2011 report
https://www.bls.gov/news.release/archives/empsit_01062012.pdf
In December, average hourly earnings for all employees on private nonfarm payrolls rose by 4 cents, or 0.2 percent, to $23.24. Over the past 12 months, average hourly earnings have increased by 2.1 percent. In December, average hourly earnings of private-sector production and nonsupervisory employees were unchanged at $19.54. (See tables B-3 and B-8.)
https://www.bls.gov/news.release/archives/empsit_01062012.pdf
In December, average hourly earnings for all employees on private nonfarm payrolls rose by 4 cents, or 0.2 percent, to $23.24. Over the past 12 months, average hourly earnings have increased by 2.1 percent. In December, average hourly earnings of private-sector production and nonsupervisory employees were unchanged at $19.54. (See tables B-3 and B-8.)
From December 2011 to December 2012, wages rose by 2.1%.
December 2012 report
https://www.bls.gov/news.release/archives/empsit_01042013.pdf
Average hourly earnings for all employees on private nonfarm payrolls rose by 7 cents to $23.73. Over the year, average hourly earnings have risen by 2.1 percent. In December, average hourly earnings of private-sector production and nonsupervisory employees increased by 6 cents to $19.92. (See tables B-3 and B-8.)
https://www.bls.gov/news.release/archives/empsit_01042013.pdf
Average hourly earnings for all employees on private nonfarm payrolls rose by 7 cents to $23.73. Over the year, average hourly earnings have risen by 2.1 percent. In December, average hourly earnings of private-sector production and nonsupervisory employees increased by 6 cents to $19.92. (See tables B-3 and B-8.)
From December 2012 to December 2013, wages rose by just 1.8%.
December 2013 report
Employment Situation News Release
In December, average hourly earnings for all employees on private nonfarm
payrolls edged up by 2 cents to $24.17. Over the year, average hourly earnings
have risen by 42 cents, or 1.8 percent. In December, average hourly earnings
of private-sector production and nonsupervisory employees increased by 3
cents to $20.35. (See tables B-3 and B-8.)
Employment Situation News Release
In December, average hourly earnings for all employees on private nonfarm
payrolls edged up by 2 cents to $24.17. Over the year, average hourly earnings
have risen by 42 cents, or 1.8 percent. In December, average hourly earnings
of private-sector production and nonsupervisory employees increased by 3
cents to $20.35. (See tables B-3 and B-8.)
From December 2013 to December 2014, wages rose by just 1.7%.
December 2014 report
Employment Situation News Release
In December, average hourly earnings for all employees on private nonfarm payrolls
decreased by 5 cents to $24.57, following an increase of 6 cents in November. Over
the year, average hourly earnings have risen by 1.7 percent. In December, average
hourly earnings of private-sector production and nonsupervisory employees decreased
by 6 cents to $20.68. (See tables B-3 and B-8.)
Employment Situation News Release
In December, average hourly earnings for all employees on private nonfarm payrolls
decreased by 5 cents to $24.57, following an increase of 6 cents in November. Over
the year, average hourly earnings have risen by 1.7 percent. In December, average
hourly earnings of private-sector production and nonsupervisory employees decreased
by 6 cents to $20.68. (See tables B-3 and B-8.)
From December 2014 to December 2015, wages rose by 2.5%.
December 2015 report
Employment Situation News Release
In December, average hourly earnings for all employees on private nonfarm payrolls, at
$25.24, changed little (-1 cent), following an increase of 5 cents in November. Over the year, average hourly earnings have risen by 2.5 percent. In December, average hourly earnings of private-sector production and nonsupervisory employees, at $21.22, changed little (+2 cents). (See tables B-3 and B-8.)
Employment Situation News Release
In December, average hourly earnings for all employees on private nonfarm payrolls, at
$25.24, changed little (-1 cent), following an increase of 5 cents in November. Over the year, average hourly earnings have risen by 2.5 percent. In December, average hourly earnings of private-sector production and nonsupervisory employees, at $21.22, changed little (+2 cents). (See tables B-3 and B-8.)
From January 2016 to January 2017, wages rose by an 2.5%, Note that this was after Obama had agreed to make most of the Bush tax cuts permanent, after the Republicans took control of both chambers of Congress, and after Obama signed the 2015 compromise spending bill that included over $700 billion in tax breaks.
January 2017 report
https://www.bls.gov/news.release/archives/empsit_02032017.pdf
In January, average hourly earnings for all employees on private nonfarm payrolls rose by 3 cents to $26.00, following a 6-cent increase in December. Over the year, average hourly earnings have risen by 2.5 percent. In January, average hourly earnings of private-sector production and nonsupervisory employees increased by 4 cents to $21.84. (See tables B-3 and B-8.)
https://www.bls.gov/news.release/archives/empsit_02032017.pdf
In January, average hourly earnings for all employees on private nonfarm payrolls rose by 3 cents to $26.00, following a 6-cent increase in December. Over the year, average hourly earnings have risen by 2.5 percent. In January, average hourly earnings of private-sector production and nonsupervisory employees increased by 4 cents to $21.84. (See tables B-3 and B-8.)
Another fertile for comparison is the wages of production and non-supervisory employees, but that’s a subject for another OP.
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