Working class men in America need help. While the shift to a knowledge-based economy has blessed the more highly educated with strong and rising wages, working class men face dwindling job prospects, stagnant wages, and declining health. These challenges have been intensifying for decades but have now reached a point of crisis.
This report outlines the current state of America’s working class men and describes recent trends in the key areas of employment, earnings, health, and family. Class, race and gender are all important here. This report shows that working class women are struggling too, and that there are also significant differences in the trends among men of different races and ethnicities. But many of the issues impacting men—such as declining labor force participation and increasing social isolation—require tailored solutions that acknowledge gender-specific dynamics. Building an opportunity economy that improves the outlook for working class men will also strengthen our communities and benefit society as a whole.