> Average hourly wages doesn't take into account workers' increase in benefits. There is a pretty good reason for that. Most of the increase in benefits has be

> Average hourly wages doesn't take into account workers' increase in benefits. There is a pretty good reason for that. Most of the increase in benefits has been in the form of increased healthcare costs, which only somewhat reflect increased value, as much of that value is unrealized due to high deductibles incentivizing people to not use medical services if they can avoid doing so (which preserves an odd form of household rainy day fund dedicated to medical catastrophes). Meanwhile, the segment of workers that are (precariously, so with litle to no leverage even in aggregate) holding one or more part-time jobs instead of a full time job with benefits has grown as well.