Final answer:
High-skilled U.S. workers often benefit from globalization due to increased sales of advanced products, whereas low-skilled American workers face competition from low-wage global labor, potentially decreasing their wages. However, intra-industry trade and labor market flexibility can mitigate these negative impacts to some extent.
Step-by-step explanation:
The impact of globalization has been varied across different groups of workers in the United States. High-skilled workers, such as those in industries producing sophisticated products like computers, machinery, and pharmaceuticals, have benefited from the increased market access that globalization provides. These workers are part of sectors where the U.S. has a comparative advantage, and this has generally led to better wages and more opportunities.
In contrast, low-skilled American workers who produce simpler goods that compete directly with products from low-wage countries have faced challenges. The influx of similar, less expensive goods can lead to downward pressure on wages and may result in job losses in industries that are unable to compete. However, due to intra-industry trade with other high-wage economies and the flexibility of the U.S. labor market, the negative impact on low-skilled workers' wages is often not as severe as it might be in less dynamic economies.
Thus, while globalization has supported the growth of certain sectors, it has also necessitated a challenging transition for others, particularly for low-skilled labor in the U.S. This dynamic has sparked important discussions on policies that can support these workers, such as retraining programs and other forms of assistance.