Low-wage jobs unexpectedly a way of life for many

By Josh Boak

Published March 12, 2014 8:05pm ET

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Low-wage jobs unexpectedly a way of life for many — FILE - In this Sunday, Nov. 13, 2005, file photo, customers at a Wal-Mart store head to the checkout lines past a worker with the company's motto on the back of her vest, in Salt Lake City. With fewer middle-income jobs available, low-wage work is becoming a dead-end for more Wal-Mart employees. (AP Photo/Douglas C. Pizac, File) | DOUGLAS C. PIZAC

WASHINGTON (AP) — For years, many Americans followed a simple career path: Land an entry-level job. Accept a modest wage. Gain skills. Leave eventually for a better-paying job.

The workers benefited, and so did lower-wage retailers such as Wal-Mart: When its staffers left for better-paying jobs, they could spend more at its stores. And the U.S. economy gained, too, because more consumer spending fueled growth.

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Jobs Labor Minimum Wage