Unemployment is low and the economy is growing at a healthy pace, but about three-quarters of Americans have financial problems, according to a survey released Thursday by USC and the nonprofit Center for Financial Services Innovation.

This is because what’s considered a job in the reports may not pay enough to live on or be enough hours per week. Or the fact that wages may have gone up a tiny percentage point or two doesn’t take into account that they would need to go up 20-50-100% before they can truly have a positive effect since they haven’t really moved at all in the past 40 years!

Or, as this government chart below shows the percentage of the population that actually works has gone down quite a bit in the last 20 years.

Source: Most Americans aren’t financially healthy despite booming economy, survey finds – Los Angeles Times