VOA慢速英语--美国增长最快的工作: 照顾富人

US Fastest Growing Jobs: Caring for the Wealthy

America's extremely wealthy population is bigger than ever. And their money is supporting jobs for an increasing number of low-wage workers.

Also called "wealth workers," they cut, clean and color the nails of rich people's hands and feet. They rub and stretch rich people's bodies. They help rich people exercise and become stronger. But the workers who provide this manicuring, massaging¹ and personal training often earn very low wages.

Mark Muro is a researcher at the Brookings Institution in Washington, DC. He explains that people with extra money are willing to pay other people to do services for them – whether it's teaching them yoga or walking their dogs. At the same time, Muro says, an increasing number of people "really need this sort of work."

But he notes that the country is losing middle-wage work – what Americans might call "traditionally more solid or dignified²."

Personal care and services jobs are the fastest growing part of the job market for non-college-educated workers, the U.S. Bureau of Labor³ Statistics⁴ reports. They are expected to grow by 17% in the next 10 years.

The Brookings Institution adds that the number of manicurists and pedicurists doubled between 2010 and 2017. Exercise trainers and dog walkers increased at up to three times the rate of employment.

Muro says at least 3 million people in the United States currently⁵ do this type of service work for the rich. Wealth workers are more likely to be women and Latino. They often do not have a college degree. And they may work several jobs providing services to people who have more money.

"Our concern is not so much that the jobs exist, but that because of the way we structure work in America, they're not...good jobs. They really don't pay that well," Muro says.

These workers are among the easiest to use unfairly. They rarely have sick leave, vacation days or savings⁶ to support them when they stop working.

But the jobs do offer something for new immigrants. One-third of workers in the U.S. are in the so-called gig economy, about 10 percent of them full time. The rest are part time, picking up gigs — such as driving for Uber – to add money from another job.

"I think it's good for the economy because these are people who need those jobs and demand is the greatest (creator) of labor power for working people," says Louis Hyman. He is the director of the Institute for Workplace Studies at Cornell University. "The question is not how do we get rid of the gig economy, but how do we marry that with security? And it's not just a question for gig workers, but for all low-wage workers in America."

Hyman says one answer to the problem could be to set up a system of private accounts for each worker. Every time someone provides a service, a dollar goes into their health care account, and a dollar goes into their savings account. That way, says Hyman, workers have an easy way to build financial security.

Mark Muro is also concerned about the health of American society. Service jobs often show the difference between the wealthy and the poor. That difference "will produce a lot of dissatisfaction...among the bottom half," Muro says. He urges that work serving others be taken seriously and respected.

"Let's ensure these are dignified jobs," he says.

Words in This Story

massage⁷ – n. the action of rubbing or pressing someone's body in a way that helps muscles to relax or reduces pain in muscles and joints⁸

manicure – n. an act that cleans the nails of the hand

dignified – adj. serious and formal

pedicure – n. an act that cleans the nails of the feet

gig economy – n. a type of working that includes doing part-time or one day jobs, employment without security

rid – v. to remove

1 massaging   

按摩，推拿( massage的现在分词 )

参考例句：

• He watched the prisoner massaging his freed wrists. 他看着那个犯人不断揉搓着刚松开的两只手腕。
• Massaging your leg will ease the cramp. 推拿大腿可解除抽筋。

2 dignified   

a.可敬的，高贵的

参考例句：

• Throughout his trial he maintained a dignified silence. 在整个审讯过程中，他始终沉默以保持尊严。
• He always strikes such a dignified pose before his girlfriend. 他总是在女友面前摆出这种庄严的姿态。

3 labor   

n.劳动，努力，工作，劳工；分娩；vi.劳动，努力，苦干；vt.详细分析；麻烦

参考例句：

• We are never late in satisfying him for his labor.我们从不延误付给他劳动报酬。
• He was completely spent after two weeks of hard labor.艰苦劳动两周后，他已经疲惫不堪了。

4 statistics   

n.统计，统计数字，统计学

参考例句：

• We have statistics for the last year.我们有去年的统计资料。
• Statistics is taught in many colleges.许多大学都教授统计学。

5 currently   

adv.通常地，普遍地，当前

参考例句：

• Currently it is not possible to reconcile this conflicting evidence.当前还未有可能去解释这一矛盾的例证。
• Our contracts are currently under review.我们的合同正在复查。

6 savings   

n.存款，储蓄

参考例句：

• I can't afford the vacation,for it would eat up my savings.我度不起假，那样会把我的积蓄用光的。
• By this time he had used up all his savings.到这时，他的存款已全部用完。

7 massage   

n.按摩，揉；vt.按摩，揉，美化，奉承，篡改数据

参考例句：

• He is really quite skilled in doing massage.他的按摩技术确实不错。
• Massage helps relieve the tension in one's muscles.按摩可使僵硬的肌肉松弛。

8 joints   

接头( joint的名词复数 )； 关节； 公共场所（尤指价格低廉的饮食和娱乐场所） （非正式）； 一块烤肉 （英式英语）

参考例句：

• Expansion joints of various kinds are fitted on gas mains. 各种各样的伸缩接头被安装在煤气的总管道上了。
• Expansion joints of various kinds are fitted on steam pipes. 各种各样的伸缩接头被安装在蒸气管道上了。