Forget the big paycheck

• Planning to ask for a big pay raise? Don’t bother. You’ll likely be shot down. Workers haven’t seen the economic boom reflected in their paychecks. In fact, last year’s average raise was only 1.1%.¹

• It’s an inflation nation. People in their 20s, 30s and 40s have barely kept up with inflation or have fallen behind since 1989.²

• Expect the average. The average paycheck — $27,000 — stayed flat from 1990 to 2004.³ the median weekly salary in 2005 was $659.⁴

Work more, same pay

• More hours. Wages are falling, but layoff fears keep employees working more hours for the same pay. The number of people working more than 50 hours a week is steadily growing.⁵

• Same pay. Experts say typical 2007 raises will be small. Slower economic growth and higher unemployment this year is the gloomy forecast.⁶

Layoffs loom

• More people than ever are worried about being laid off. Job security is quickly becoming an urban legend. Between 70,000 and 80,000 corporate employees are laid off every month, about 30,000 more than just six years ago.⁷

Strike out on your own
• Forget about corporate America! Now that pension funds and healthcare benefits — once guarantees of employee loyalty — are being trimmed or abolished, there’s never been a better time to go out on your own. Since the risks of starting a business are lower and the rewards of staying at a corporate job have fallen, it’s no wonder that more workers are turning to entrepreneurship.⁸

Get the Life You Dreamed About
If you're looking for an opportunity to strike out on your own, click into the Entrepreneurs Wanted section for details.

1, 5 Parade, April 15, 2007
2 USA Today, May 21, 2007
3, 4 Parade, March 12, 2006
6, 7, 8 CNNMoney.com, January 23, 2007

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