US workers in the US face different wages based on the effort required in their jobs. In the 1960s, wages increased for all effort levels due to lower capital costs. In the 1970s, wages for labor-intensive jobs decreased while wages for capital-intensive jobs increased. In the 1980s, workers started working more hours for the same pay, possibly due to rising non-wage benefits costs or new equipment. Unionization, education, and sharing profits also affect wages.