Why Jobs Were So Available After WWII

• Factories switched to products people wanted After the war, factories stopped making tanks and airplanes and started building cars, TVs, and household appliances. This change created a lot of new jobs. Source: “Factories made the switch from war to peacetime production.” (History.com) 
• Strong economic growth lowered unemployment Although many people expected a recession after the military stopped buying so much stuff, unemployment only went up by a few points—because so many new jobs were created instead. Source: “…the unemployment rate instead only rose by 3 percentage points…” (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics) 
• More workers found jobs right away Even when people lost one job, they didn’t stay out of work long—they quickly moved into new ones in different industries. Researchers say this showed how fast the job market was bouncing back. Source: “The majority of workers … transitioned directly into a new job.” (NBER) 
• Service jobs grew too Not only did factory jobs increase, but offices, stores, and service businesses also expanded—so people could find work in many places. Source: “By 1956, a majority of U.S. workers held white-collar rather than blue-collar jobs.” (ThoughtCo) 

Back to American Dream after Before Trickle Down