Final answer:
During the Great Recession, more people working in mid-wage jobs were unemployed because of the significant impact on service, retail, and food sectors. Data showed that 60% of job losses were in medium-wage occupations, often replaced by lower-wage jobs post-recession. The job market shifted, leading to a change in economic prospects for affected workers.
Step-by-step explanation:
During the last recession, more individuals employed in mid-wage occupations were unemployed due to the higher percentage of them working in the service, retail, and food sectors, which were impacted more by the recession.
The National Employment Law Project assessed data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, which indicated that 60% of job losses during the Great Recession were in medium-wage occupations.
These job losses were predominantly replaced with positions in lower-wage occupations following the economic downturn. A critical aspect of this recovery was the shift in the types of jobs that became available post-recession, as represented in various figures that illustrate jobs lost and gained.
The employment landscape was significantly altered by the Great Recession, where not only the rate of unemployment rose, but also the nature of employment opportunities transformed.
Particularly troubling was the fact that many mid-wage jobs were not recovered, instead, there was an increase in the number of lower-paying jobs.
This resulted in a change in the economic prospects for many workers who found themselves working in sectors that traditionally offer less stability and fewer benefits, which could contribute to increased economic insecurity for a significant portion of the workforce.