Analysis: The Distant American Dream

The Distant American Dream

For a vast majority, the American Dream embodies everything that is produced by hope and hard work, and within this concept includes the notion of a stable financial situation. However, as a result of the previous economic predicament of the United States of America, the American Dream seemed out of reach for many. Even now, it still beyond the grasp of many despite an increase in the number of jobs available in the employment market. In fact, it has become increasingly difficult to attain the American Dream of financial stability as criteria for an occupation has become more demanding. In the past, participants in the U.S. workforce have had less overall difficulty in securing a job to ensure financial stability compared to those in the 21st century. In a job and education projection executive summary published in 2010 by Georgetown researchers, as summarized in Figures 1 and 2, in 1970, about 74% of the middle class and about 56% of the upper class were made up of high school dropouts and graduates. The relatively large percentage of individuals with below postsecondary education in the middle and upper class of the U.S. during the 1970s suggest how such individuals had little difficulty securing financial

This change in the composition of the middle class showcases the increasing difficulty of jobs as technology is on the rise and as more postsecondary jobs appear in the employment market. The growth in the difficulty level of jobs within the U.S. employment market forces companies and organizations to hire those with a higher education, outcompeting many individuals with lower education. The inclusion of people of lower education in the middle and upper class in the past showed that it was easier to obtain financial stability compared to the more recent