Biggest Gainers and Losers

Registered nurses and other speciality occupations accounted for the largest share of growth in the middle-class wage range. In 1980, 19 of every 1,000 middle-class jobs were held by registered nurses. Today, the rate is 39 per 1,000.

The Picture by Industry

In 1980, nearly 300 out of every 1,000 middle-class jobs were held by workers in the manufacturing industry. Today the rate is half that. Instead, today's middle-class worker is increasingly likely to work in health care or the professional services industry, which have higher shares of jobs that are held by women.