A new Pew Research Center study finds that 60% of U.S. adults now describe themselves as “working class,” up from 54% two years earlier. The survey also reports that this self-labeling is not limited to lower-income groups: about half of Americans in the highest income tier say the term fits them.
The findings point to how broadly the term “working class” is being adopted across the country, including among people who earn more than $155,000. Different outlets frame the same data in terms of affordability and economic strain, emphasizing that higher earners are still comfortable with the label. Coverage focuses on the size and direction of the change in Pew’s trend measurement.
Taken together, the reporting centers on Pew’s poll results and the notable spread of the “working class” identity across income levels, including top earners. The outlets largely align on the headline figures, while their emphasis varies between interpreting the trend as a sign of affordability pressures and focusing on the survey’s demographic reach.
