*By Michael Teich*
Corporate shareholders may [benefit](https://money.cnn.com/2018/02/16/investing/stock-buybacks-tax-law-bonuses/index.html) from tax cuts, but American workers aren't really profiting, said Mark Hamrick, senior economic analyst at Bankrate.
"It's globalization, the ability of employers to [replace labor](https://cheddar.com/videos/selerity-exec-a-i-in-finance-will-shift-from-consumers-to-workers) with technology," Hamrick said Friday in an interview with Cheddar. "Workers are not getting the bulk of these tax cuts. Workers have perhaps some appropriate reason to be a bit disappointed."
The Labor Department reported Friday that the unemployment rate in the U.S. dropped to 3.9 percent. But as unemployment falls, inflation is rising, and companies are squeamish about tariffs.
"Inflation has been running at an annual rate of about 2 percent, meaning that real wages are making little progress," Hamrick said.
Though average hourly earnings rose 2.7 percent for the second straight month, when inflation's factored in, workers are taking home less than a percent more in earnings.
Now is the time, Hamrick said, to save for retirement and emergencies.
The U.S. economy added 157,000 jobs in July, missing estimates of 193,000 but marking the 94th consecutive month of growth.
For more on this story, [click here](https://cheddar.com/videos/the-reason-youre-not-getting-a-raise).
President Donald Trump pulled a rabbit out of his trade war hat this week, announcing a trade deal with Japan putting 15% tariffs on most Japanese imports.
Nextdoor CEO Nirav Tolia shares how the neighborhood app's redesign aims to inform, connect, and protect communities with smarter features and local insight.
Tim Bohen dives into the 'Trump Trade,' renewed tariffs, waning uncertainty, corporate guidance, and what the Fed’s next move means for traders and markets.
Wall Street icon Peter Tuchman dives into Apex Trader Funding’s partnership with Wall Street Global Trading Academy and what it means for the next-gen trader.
Matthew Frankel, contributing analyst at The Motley Fool, discusses the recent SPAC resurgence, investor interest, and what the data says about their future.
Axios’ Neil Irwin unpacks the political clash as the White House explores legal pathways to dismiss Fed Chair Powell, threatening central bank independence.
Shark attack survivor Paul de Gelder joins us to talk Navy diving, bull sharks, and his wild return in Air Jaws and more during Discovery’s Shark Week!
