Under Trump, Blue-Collar Wages Soar At Fastest Rate Since 1969

Wages for blue-collar workers are up more in the first five months of President Donald Trump’s second term than under any other president since 1969.

“Thanks to @POTUS’s pro-growth, America First policies, real wages for hourly workers are up nearly 2% in the first five months of @realDonaldTrump’s second term — the strongest growth in 60 years,” Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said in a post on X.

Bessent’s post includes a graph showing 1.7% wage growth for blue-collar workers, defined as nonsupervisory and production workers, during the first five months of Trump’s second term. The next highest wage growth rate for those workers since 1969 came during Trump’s first term, when it hit 1.3% over the first five months.

“No president has done that before — except President Trump in his first term. Hardworking Americans and Main Street businesses have never had a stronger ally in the @WhiteHouse,” Bessent said.

Thanks to @POTUS’s pro-growth, America First policies, real wages for hourly workers are up nearly 2% in the first five months of @realDonaldTrump’s second term — the strongest growth in 60 years.

No president has done that before — except President Trump in his first term.… pic.twitter.com/gasjQn33eb

— Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent (@SecScottBessent) June 17, 2025

The rise in the wages of blue-collar workers has coincided with a decrease in inflation. Earlier this month, Consumer Price Index data from May showed that inflation has stayed somewhat steady since April. The report showed that inflation rose 2.4% last month after rising 2.3% in April.

The inflation data came in under economists’ expectations, which were set on a higher target because of tariffs’ expected impact on prices.

“CPI JUST OUT. GREAT NUMBERS! FED SHOULD LOWER ONE FULL POINT,” Trump posted on Truth Social at the time. “WOULD PAY MUCH LESS INTEREST ON DEBT COMING DUE. SO IMPORTANT!!!”

The White House is now pushing the One Big, Beautiful Bill to pass through Congress to “supercharge” the economy and provide fresh energy to some of the large-scale trends taking place, such as rising wages.

“The One Big Beautiful Bill will raise take-home pay between $7,800 and $13,300 for the average family of four. It will increase wages between $6,100 to $11,600 for the average worker,” Bessent told Congress during a hearing last week.

Bessent has warned that the consequences for not passing the bill would be “cataclysmic.”

“It would be the largest tax hike in history. It would be a disaster for businesses, for working Americans, and for our status in the world,” he told lawmakers. “We would see increases in taxes of thousands of dollars on working Americans, we would see businesses contract, and we would see a substantial increase in the unemployment rate.”