In a recent discussion with Miranda Devine, former Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent highlighted a noteworthy development: blue-collar wages are witnessing an upsurge during Trump’s current term. He remarked that the last time wages reached these heights was during Trump’s first presidency.
This wage growth is just the beginning, as Trump has only resumed office for a short six months. According to Bessent, the economic landscape is poised for further improvement as Trump continues to roll out his policies.
Interestingly, Democrats, who were quick to lament high egg prices shortly after Trump’s inauguration, seem to have muted their economic critiques. This shift in tone could be indicative of the changing economic narrative.
The New York Post reports:
Blue-collar wage growth under Trump sees largest increase in nearly 60 years, Treasury secretary reveals on Pod Force One
Blue-collar workers have experienced a real wage increase of nearly two percent in the first five months of President Donald Trump’s second term, marking the largest growth seen under any administration in close to 60 years.
This 1.7% pay rise stands in stark contrast to the negative wage growth recorded during Joe Biden’s administration, as indicated by fresh data from the US Department of the Treasury.
Since Richard Nixon’s presidency in 1969, Trump is the only president to have achieved positive wage growth for blue-collar workers in the initial five months of his term. For comparison, he recorded a 1.3% increase during his first term.
The recovery from a 1.7% decline documented in Biden’s first five months, where inflation outpaced earnings, suggests a significant shift in economic conditions for this economically vulnerable group.
“The only other time it’s been this high was… during President Trump’s first term,” Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent noted in the latest episode of the “Pod Force One” podcast, released Wednesday.
Watch the video below:
The President’s focus on manufacturing and immigration has sparked a boom for blue-collar Americans.
We’ve seen real wages for hourly, non-supervisory workers rise almost 2% in the first five months.
Once again, no president has accomplished this before. pic.twitter.com/j9YnOWXwnn
— Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent (@SecScottBessent) June 18, 2025
Just imagine the economic landscape a year from now.
