text: Take a look at these graphs, from the Oregon Office of Economic Analysis:  
  https://oregoneconomicanalysis.com/2016/03/30/oregon-job-polarization-update-2015/  
  
  The state is calling this job polarization.  Middle wage jobs have disappeared and been replaced by low wage jobs (maybe).  There are a number of new higher wage jobs, but we also have new people (some of them working people) moving into the area again.   Housing and rent costs have shot way up, so no wonder it is harder to make ends meet:  harder to find a decent paying job and the cost of living has gone up.    
  
  These graphs show where the jobs are clustering:  at the top, and the bottom.  The shape of the curve says much more than a simplistic "median" wage does.  
  
  Sue