Springfield ranks in the top 10 cities with the largest decreases in weekly wage amounts since 2000, according to data from the Pew Research Center.
A Pew Research Center analysis looked at real percentage change in average third quarter weekly wages by metropolitan areas from 2000 to 2015. It showed Springfield had a significant decrease in weekly wage earnings for workers. Real wages decreased 5.4 percent from 2000 to 2015 in Springfield.
According to the analysis of federal wage data, metropolitan areas with U.S. energy production industries benefited most from inflation-adjusted gains in average weekly wages. These included areas like Midland and Odessa, Texas, where oil and gas patches caused an increase in wage amounts for workers.
At the same time, real wages fell in 22 metro areas — mostly manufacturing-based cities. Manufacturing-based cities had a tougher time rebounding from the Great Recession.
Average weekly wages rose by 7.4 percent in real terms between 2000 and 2015 nationwide, according to Pew Research.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, wages increased in the first quarter of 2016. Median weekly earnings of full-time wage and salary workers were $830 in the first quarter — a 2.7 percent increase than the previous year.