Wages slowed by health care costs

While the Labor Department is busy touting the latest job figures, this NY Times editorial points out something that might not be as obvious:

Wages are not keeping up with inflation. And the reason is health care. Employers are diverting money from wages to cover increasing health care costs. The Secretary of Labor will try to spin this to say that workers "overall compensation" is therefore higher, but we also know that workers are being asked to pitch in more and more of their own health care premium costs. So they're getting squeezed on both ends.

So, when is good news not good news? When the underlying information looks like this.

Comments

[Blue Cross of California]

It's unfortunate to hear wages are being slowed because of rising health care costs. Health insurance is a major importance to many and it should be affordable for all.