News for hackers. Stuff that matters.
Re:Americans overestimate social mobility in their country by chrisseaton on Sunday December 12, 2021 @09:21PM (#29535856)
> Only 8% of people in the United States make more than $100k

How does the percentage change when you look at people with full-time jobs? With full-time professional jobs? Who are actively trying to optimise their income instead of for example prioritising family? I'd guess it becomes much larger very quickly.

Re:Americans overestimate social mobility in their country by redelbee on Sunday December 12, 2021 @09:47PM (#29536012)
According to the 2020 census data linked below the percentage increases to around 24% for individuals who worked full time all year. I don’t think there is any easy way to find the more specific groups you mentioned. That’s not a large enough increase to consider making six figures as easy as “prioritizing” it or whatever you’re proposing.

https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/cps/tables/pinc-01/...

In any case what you’re proposing is selection bias. No one should be surprised that people who work full time are more likely to make six figures than those who don’t. And yes, if you cherry pick a group of “professionals” who receive larger salaries of course the percentage will increase. And it’s back to survivorship bias for the “prioritization” examples you mentioned. Unless you happen to have a random sample of people who don’t make six figures but would prefer to.

Re:Americans overestimate social mobility in their country by chrisseaton on Sunday December 12, 2021 @09:50PM (#29536025)
I think you've just proved yourself that making 100k is extremely achievable in the US (1/4) for someone who even just bothers to turn up full-time.
Re:Americans overestimate social mobility in their country by saalweachter on Sunday December 12, 2021 @10:31PM (#29536303)
Keep in mind the "underemployment rate" -- the people who want to be working more but can't find a job that will let them -- is something like 12%.

Being willing to show up full time is necessary but not sufficient.

Re:Americans overestimate social mobility in their country by PaulDavisThe1st on Sunday December 12, 2021 @11:22PM (#29536571)
When 3 out 4 people "fail" at something, I'm not sure that calling it "extremely achievable" is really a particularly suitable description.
Re:Americans overestimate social mobility in their country by shukantpal on Monday December 13, 2021 @12:07AM (#29536839)
Ahem, your statement assumes people even try - most do not. Especially given the "follow your passion" advice Americans are following nowadays.
Re:Americans overestimate social mobility in their country by PaulDavisThe1st on Monday December 13, 2021 @12:18AM (#29536890)
The GP was using a quote from the GGP:

> According to the 2020 census data linked below the percentage increases to around 24% for individuals who worked full time all year.

It said and implied nothing about people trying or not. GP attempted to cast this as "1/4 of people succeed, so it's easily achieveable"

Re:Americans overestimate social mobility in their country by shukantpal on Monday December 13, 2021 @06:15PM (#29546012)
It said and implied nothing about failing either.

Also, if I look at the people around myself and see that 1 / 4 are able to do something, it would probably be easy. So it’s the GPs own self awareness combined with the stat.