The central finding is that workers received just 52.8% of U.S. economic output as wages and salaries in the second quarter of 2026, the lowest share since records began in 1947. That compares with 53.6% in the previous quarter and a decade average of about 55.6%. The decline comes as corporate profits and GDP have grown: Fortune 500 companies earned a record $2.1 trillion in 2025, while job growth weakened sharply. Employers added 584,000 jobs in 2025, down from 2 million in 2024, and unemployment rose to 4.2%. Economists warn that the widening gap between corporate performance and worker gains could deepen economic inequality and produce growth without enough jobs.
One explanation is automation: rising productivity may let firms produce more with fewer workers, shifting income toward owners of capital. Goldman Sachs estimates AI could eventually displace 6% to 7% of jobs, though large-scale AI-driven job losses have not yet appeared in economic data, and analysts disagree about how much recent productivity growth reflects technology. Another concern is the shrinking foreign-born workforce after stricter immigration policies; researchers say this has not created more opportunities for U.S.-born workers and may leave businesses short-staffed. Proposed remedies include more welcoming immigration policies and greater investment in training and retraining, especially for technology-assisted trades. Without stronger job growth and a larger, better-prepared workforce, economists question whether the economy can sustain its expansion.
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A report says Alina Habba Mildon received a $50 million contract to help a Venezuelan billionaire family secure a presidential pardon. Trump was reportedly angry she did not share the money and suggested she donate some to his presidential library or another affiliated group. (newrepublic.com)
An analysis of 10,202 public comments at 417 local governments found 90.5% opposed data centers, with water use the leading concern. Four in five comments did not mention AI, and data-center discussions have risen 22-fold since 2022. (americansentiment.com)
A Learjet crash in Palm Beach County, Florida, killed nine people. No further details are available in the provided content. (cnn.com)
Nurses are raising concerns about gig apps that match healthcare workers with shifts, warning that their push to loosen regulations could put care standards at risk. The provided page was blocked, so further details are unavailable. (nurse.org)
US job growth is forecast to more than double to 65,000 in October, with unemployment holding at 4.2%. A steady labor market could keep the Federal Reserve on track for further rate hikes as it fights inflation. (bloomberg.com)
Oil majors are directing windfall profits toward shareholder payouts and debt reduction rather than building new refineries, despite calls to expand capacity as fuel prices rise. They cite high construction costs, long timelines and expected declines in fuel demand, while supply disruptions are expected to keep diesel shortages going into 2027. (ft.com)
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