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Story perspectives

From Boom to Bust: The Decline of U.S. Middle-Class Jobs

1/14/2026

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Summary

Story summary

In 1976, Matthew Moore joined the roofers’ union in Orange County, California.
At age 19, he bought a home in Whittier, benefiting from a strong middle-class economy.
This shift began during the housing boom and continued after the Great Recession, with the share of foreign-born workers nearly doubling in the construction industry.
Moore’s story reflects the broader decline of well-paying opportunities in the U.S. workforce.

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Story summary

In 1976, Matthew Moore joined the roofers’ union in Orange County, California.
At age 19, he bought a home in Whittier, benefiting from a strong middle-class economy.
This shift began during the housing boom and continued after the Great Recession, with the share of foreign-born workers nearly doubling in the construction industry.
Moore’s story reflects the broader decline of well-paying opportunities in the U.S. workforce.