Final answer:
Americans currently work predominantly in service-related jobs, marking the phase of a Postindustrial Economy. With more jobs in the service and information sectors, there's a stark contrast in job security and benefits, leading to increasing societal inequality.
Step-by-step explanation:
Americans are now primarily working in service-related jobs, such as information processing, finance, medicine, transportation, and education. This transition signifies that the United States is in the Postindustrial Economy phase. The shift from an industrial to a service economy began around the 1970s and has resulted in most jobs being in the tertiary sector, reflecting the nation's advancement into the information age.
The present U.S. economy is characterized by the prominence of information sector jobs, which surpass traditional industrial or manufacturing roles. This change has created a divergence in the job market, with some service roles offering high pay and job security and others providing precarious employment with little stability or benefits. The evolution of technology and the global economy have played significant roles in this transition, enabling the growth of online industries and digital services.
Members of a postindustrial society like the U.S. are more likely to be software programmers or business consultants than producers of goods. Innovations in digital technology, such as the rise of the internet, have dramatically altered the landscape of many industries, making information a critical economic commodity.