- Some Americans who secured jobs, homes, and stocks a few years ago are thriving financially.
- The job market has tightened, home prices have surged, and stock prices have risen.
- But some Americans are struggling to find jobs and afford homes — and not everyone invests in stocks.
Think back on your life two to three years ago. Did you have a job, own a home, and have significant investments in the stock market?
If the answer was yes to all three, then there’s a decent chance you’re feeling OK about the state of your finances. But if you didn’t check all three boxes, you might be among the Americans who remain frustrated by the economy.
If you had a job a few years ago and haven’t quit, there’s a good chance you’re still employed — layoffs have been low relative to historical levels. There’s also a good chance you’ve benefited from wage growth, which has exceeded inflation over the past year. But if you didn’t have a job and are searching for one now — including recent college graduates — you’re facing a considerably tougher labor market.
If you bought a home before 2021, there’s a good chance the value of your home has risen considerably in recent years. It’s also likely that you locked in a low mortgage rate. But if you’re trying to buy a home today, you’re facing a housing market that’s much less affordable than it was a few years ago.