--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: As many people know, our job market…" description: "\"As many people know, our job market problems began long before the latest recession. We have faced literally decades with no substantive increase in me..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b15/jeffrey-pfeffer-8575_growth_as-many-people-know-our-job-market-probl_3117596.jpg" --- # As many people know, our job market problems began long… ![“As many people know, our job market problems began long before the latest recession. We have faced literally decades with no substantive increase in median wages, and job growth, except in health and government jobs such as education, has been stagnant for a while. People are now expected to…” quote by Jeffrey Pfeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b15/jeffrey-pfeffer-8575_growth_as-many-people-know-our-job-market-probl_3117596.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b15/jeffrey-pfeffer-8575_growth_as-many-people-know-our-job-market-probl_3117596.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b15/jeffrey-pfeffer-8575_growth_as-many-people-know-our-job-market-probl_3117596.jpg) > “As many people know, our job market problems began long before the latest recession. We have faced literally decades with no substantive increase in median wages, and job growth, except in health and government jobs such as education, has been stagnant for a while. People are now expected to travel more and to work at odd hours to coordinate with people all over the world. Simply put, companies have prospered, but for the most part, people have not.” [Jeffrey Pfeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-pfeffer/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The modern labor market has seen stagnant wages and job growth for many sectors despite overall corporate prosperity, leading to increased work demands and inequity. **In simple terms:** Wages stagnant, work demands rise, inequality grows. Key Takeaway Advocate for fair wages and balanced work conditions. Themes economy labor market inequality work-life balance Mood frustrated concerned Type analytical critical When to use this quote - career planning - policy advocacy - union organizing - remote work management Key Concepts Human capital structural inequality globalization Questions to Reflect On - How can policies better align corporate success with employee well‑being? - What strategies can workers use to negotiate fairer conditions? A Different Perspective Corporate profits often mask employee struggles and systemic wage suppression. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Growth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/growth/) [Hours](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hours/) [Investing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/investing/) [Job growth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/job-growth/) [Job Market](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/job-market-841028/) [Long](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/long/) [Market Problems](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/market-problems-530166/) [Odd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/odd/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Problem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/problem/) [Recession Faced](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/recession-faced-5461971/) [Stagnant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stagnant/) [Stagnant People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stagnant-people-317620/) [World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world/) ## Related quotes > [Man is a luxury loving animal. Take away play, fancies, and luxuries, and you will turn man into a dull, sluggish creature, barely energetic…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-hoffer/man-is-a-luxury-loving-animal-take-away-play-fancies-and-luxuries-and/) [Eric Hoffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-hoffer/) > [“Only stagnant people get stuck because they don't attempt to move at all.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alicia-jennings/only-stagnant-people-get-stuck-because-they-don-t-attempt-to-move-at/) [Alicia Jennings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alicia-jennings/) > [Of course things get stagnant; people get too used to their environment, but that's why I'm in my district every week, at meetings with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/of-course-things-get-stagnant-people-get-too-used-to-their/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The issue that's really, really concerning is that you have eight million prime age men who have dropped out of the labor force, folks…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-vance/the-issue-that-s-really-really-concerning-is-that-you-have-eight/) [James Vance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-vance/) > [Europe is a strong market for the U.S. If it has problems, if there's a lack of consumer confidence, if there's a deeper recession,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-papandreou/europe-is-a-strong-market-for-the-u-s-if-it-has-problems-if-there-s-a/) [George Papandreou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-papandreou/) > [There was a perception that the emerging-market problems aren't over and concern that may Brazil devalue.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-towner-williams/there-was-a-perception-that-the-emerging-market-problems-aren-t-over/) [John Towner Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-towner-williams/) > [We have a lot of secondary market problems in the U.K.; it's really bad there. And lots of artists are starting to participate in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mick-jagger/we-have-a-lot-of-secondary-market-problems-in-the-u-k-it-s-really-bad/) [Mick Jagger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mick-jagger/) > [“So it’s not without reason that you’ve come to believe that you need to know 150 percent before you consider yourself even remotely up…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/valerie-young/so-it-s-not-without-reason-that-you-ve-come-to-believe-that-you-need/) [Valerie Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/valerie-young/) > [“The top managers are defensive about these departures; they point to how safe, attractive, and up-to-date the workplace is. Rodney Everts is less defensive…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-sennett/the-top-managers-are-defensive-about-these-departures-they-point-to/) [Richard Sennett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-sennett/) > [We know the job market is changing by the minute.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kim-reynolds/we-know-the-job-market-is-changing-by-the-minute/) [Kim Reynolds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kim-reynolds/) > [The tech-driven economy leads to a two-tier job market where workers are either critical or 'commodity.' This divisive 'winner-take-all' mentality hurts most Americans and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-steyer/the-tech-driven-economy-leads-to-a-two-tier-job-market-where-workers/) [Tom Steyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-steyer/) > [“Throughout history the job market has been divided into three main sectors: agriculture, industry, and services. Up until 1800, most people worked in agriculture.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gbf-summary/throughout-history-the-job-market-has-been-divided-into-three-main/) [GBF Summary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gbf-summary/) > [Amongst high unemployment rates, a competitive job market and a shrinking global economy, the emerging social media industry only continues to grow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-holmes/amongst-high-unemployment-rates-a-competitive-job-market-and-a/) [Ryan Holmes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-holmes/) > [Young people entering the job market seek employment at companies with values that match theirs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-blumenthal/young-people-entering-the-job-market-seek-employment-at-companies/) [Neil Blumenthal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-blumenthal/) > [Obama's gonna play Santa Claus with the minimum wage. He's got no successes to brag about. He cannot talk about a robust job market.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/obama-s-gonna-play-santa-claus-with-the-minimum-wage-he-s-got-no/) [Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/) ## More by Jeffrey Pfeffer > [Trust is about keeping commitments, but in many instances, circumstances change and organizations therefore shed commitments, things such as retiree medical benefits, pension obligations,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-pfeffer/trust-is-about-keeping-commitments-but-in-many-instances/) [Jeffrey Pfeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-pfeffer/) > [Business school graduates from the best schools earn large salaries and frequently rise to positions of great power. It would be nice if they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-pfeffer/business-school-graduates-from-the-best-schools-earn-large-salaries/) [Jeffrey Pfeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-pfeffer/) > [The individual attributes of warmth and competence are often perceived to be negatively correlated. That doesn't mean they actually are, but that's how people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-pfeffer/the-individual-attributes-of-warmth-and-competence-are-often/) [Jeffrey Pfeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-pfeffer/) > [Today, if the CEO thinks it's a good idea, it's done everywhere; if the CEO thinks it's a bad idea, it's done nowhere. We…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-pfeffer/today-if-the-ceo-thinks-it-s-a-good-idea-it-s-done-everywhere-if-the/) [Jeffrey Pfeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-pfeffer/) > [Almost no one as I think most leadership books are a joke. They are, as I note in Leadership BS, frequently based on wishes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-pfeffer/almost-no-one-as-i-think-most-leadership-books-are-a-joke-they-are-as/) [Jeffrey Pfeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-pfeffer/) > [Authenticity seems like sort of a joke. Actually I believe it was the late comedian George Burns who said, "if you can fake sincerity,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-pfeffer/authenticity-seems-like-sort-of-a-joke-actually-i-believe-it-was-the/) [Jeffrey Pfeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-pfeffer/) > [Everyone faces defeats, setbacks, reversals of fortune. But just like water wearing away rock, persistence triumphs. Resilience is one of the most important qualities…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-pfeffer/everyone-faces-defeats-setbacks-reversals-of-fortune-but-just-like/) [Jeffrey Pfeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-pfeffer/) > [Many companies believe incentives, financial incentives, are the answer to every problem or issue. But people are motivated by much more than money. In…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-pfeffer/many-companies-believe-incentives-financial-incentives-are-the-answer/) [Jeffrey Pfeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-pfeffer/) > [Leaders are not modest, and more importantly, the extensive social science research on narcissism, self-promotion, and similar constructs shows that these qualities and behaviors…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-pfeffer/leaders-are-not-modest-and-more-importantly-the-extensive-social/) [Jeffrey Pfeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-pfeffer/) > [“When two people always agree, one of them is unnecessary.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-pfeffer/when-two-people-always-agree-one-of-them-is-unnecessary/) [Jeffrey Pfeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-pfeffer/) > [I completely reject the idea that working adults need to be treated like infants or worse and not told the realities, harsh or not,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-pfeffer/i-completely-reject-the-idea-that-working-adults-need-to-be-treated/) [Jeffrey Pfeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-pfeffer/) > [The stories leaders and others tell, few of which are true, are a lousy foundation on which to base any sort of science, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-pfeffer/the-stories-leaders-and-others-tell-few-of-which-are-true-are-a-lousy/) [Jeffrey Pfeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-pfeffer/) > [Being memorable equals getting picked.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-pfeffer/being-memorable-equals-getting-picked/) [Jeffrey Pfeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-pfeffer/) > [“(like the BMW mechanic who handed Robert Sutton a survey and pleaded for a five on a five-point scale, because otherwise he would get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-pfeffer/like-the-bmw-mechanic-who-handed-robert-sutton-a-survey-and-pleaded/) [Jeffrey Pfeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-pfeffer/) > [Typical pay increases are not enough to motivate employees, but they are enough to irritate them. … Even when companies create seemingly significant pay…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-pfeffer/typical-pay-increases-are-not-enough-to-motivate-employees-but-they/) [Jeffrey Pfeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-pfeffer/) [Explore all 78 Jeffrey Pfeffer quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-pfeffer/) ## More Growth quotes > [My coach, Robert Allen, helped me a lot. He had more influence on my growth as a player than anyone else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lamarcus-aldridge/my-coach-robert-allen-helped-me-a-lot-he-had-more-influence-on-my/) [LaMarcus Aldridge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lamarcus-aldridge/) > [“…progress isn't necessarily about change but about things turning out as we want them to”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-hogan/progress-isn-t-necessarily-about-change-but-about-things-turning-out/) [Phil Hogan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-hogan/) > [Advances in technology will continue to reach far into every sector of our economy. Future job and economic growth in industry, defense, transportation, agriculture,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-bond/advances-in-technology-will-continue-to-reach-far-into-every-sector/) [Christopher Bond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-bond/) > [During human progress, every science is evolved out of its corresponding art.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbert-spencer/during-human-progress-every-science-is-evolved-out-of-its/) [Herbert Spencer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herbert-spencer/) > [“I urge you: don't cut short these thought-trains of yours. Follow them through to their end. Your thoughts and your feelings. Follow them through…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-m-coetzee/i-urge-you-don-t-cut-short-these-thought-trains-of-yours-follow-them/) [J.M. Coetzee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-m-coetzee/) > [“Economic growth continued by means of a succession of new products which found growing and ultimately massive demand. Some of the new products were…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-a-hudson/economic-growth-continued-by-means-of-a-succession-of-new-products/) [Edward A. Hudson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-a-hudson/) > [“To engage in dialogue is to serve others via whatever is real inside you; to engage in debate is to ultimately serve the illusions…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oli-anderson/to-engage-in-dialogue-is-to-serve-others-via-whatever-is-real-inside/) [Oli Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oli-anderson/) > [If you learn something that changes you, you've made progress. If you learn something that changes others, you've helped change the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lanie-lane/if-you-learn-something-that-changes-you-you-ve-made-progress-if-you/) [Lanie Lane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lanie-lane/) > [“SILENT LIKE SLEEP You appear by my side, silent like sleep. Soft hair, a little wild. No fear, gentle like a calm river. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donna-goddard/silent-like-sleep-you-appear-by-my-side-silent-like-sleep-soft-hair-a/) [Donna Goddard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donna-goddard/) > [Friendship, "the wine of life," should, like a well-stocked cellar, be continually renewed; and it is consolatory to think, that although we can seldom…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-boswell/friendship-the-wine-of-life-should-like-a-well-stocked-cellar-be/) [James Boswell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-boswell/) > [Change is inevitable but personal growth is a choice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-proctor/change-is-inevitable-but-personal-growth-is-a-choice/) [Bob Proctor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-proctor/) > [He who is content with what has been done is an obstacle in the path of progress.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-keller/he-who-is-content-with-what-has-been-done-is-an-obstacle-in-the-path/) [Helen Keller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-keller/) > [“There is no growth without risk. There is always something to be gained from any experience. It is up to us to interpret our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/truth-devour/there-is-no-growth-without-risk-there-is-always-something-to-be/) [Truth Devour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/truth-devour/) > [Create an environment for people to fail, to learn, and to grow. Their creativity and productivity will increase.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/create-an-environment-for-people-to-fail-to-learn-and-to-grow-their/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [You have to improve; that's how you develop.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-gustafsson/you-have-to-improve-that-s-how-you-develop/) [Alexander Gustafsson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-gustafsson/) [Browse all 9,113 Growth quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/growth/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "As many people know, our job market problems began long before the latest recession. We have faced literally decades with no substantive increase in median wages, and job growth, except in health and government jobs such as education, has been stagnant for a while. People are now expected to travel more and to work at odd hours to coordinate with people all over the world. Simply put, companies have prospered, but for the most part, people have not.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Jeffrey Pfeffer" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-pfeffer/as-many-people-know-our-job-market-problems-began-long-before-the/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Growth" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-pfeffer/as-many-people-know-our-job-market-problems-began-long-before-the/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b15/jeffrey-pfeffer-8575_growth_as-many-people-know-our-job-market-probl_3117596.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b15/jeffrey-pfeffer-8575_growth_as-many-people-know-our-job-market-probl_3117596.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b15/jeffrey-pfeffer-8575_growth_as-many-people-know-our-job-market-probl_3117596.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“As many people know, our job market problems began long before the latest recession. We have faced literally…” — Jeffrey Pfeffer", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Jeffrey Pfeffer", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-pfeffer/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "As many people know, our job...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-pfeffer/as-many-people-know-our-job-market-problems-began-long-before-the/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-pfeffer/as-many-people-know-our-job-market-problems-began-long-before-the/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```