Lowwage jobs to flourish

Mid-wage lags as tech, globalization reshape labor market

Low-wage jobs are expected to grow the fastest over the next five years while occupations that support a middle-class living will lag, according to a new CareerBuilder survey.

Technology and globalization will continue to reshape the labor market, paring some middle-wage factory and office jobs in particular.

All told, low-wage jobs are projected to increase by 3 million, or 5.57%, through 2022. High-wage jobs will increase by 2.7 million, or 5.1%, and middlewage payrolls will grow by 2.2 million, or 4.1%, according to CareerBuilder and its research arm, Economic Modeling Specialists International.

About half of the 302,930 jobs estimated to be lost during the period will be among middle-wage jobs.

Low- and high-wage jobs are each forecast to account for a quarter of the job losses. Currently, each of those categories makes up about a third of all U.S. jobs.

“Middle-wage jobs are having a harder time growing in the new world economy,” says Matt Ferguson, CEO of CareerBuilder, a job-site provider.

Other trends, such as the spread of e-commerce and an aging population that will require more health services, will also help frame the shifting employment landscape.