In the 1930s the Labor force participation rate was almost 20% higher (https://www.dol.gov/agencies/wb/data/lfp/US-Workforce-Since-1920). Then you factor in the underemployment and gig work you mentioned as well as how inflation has been a lie since the 1990s, and I’m not sure things sucked “MUCH” harder in economic terms. We do have better toys thanks to 80 years of NSF and other government funded science, but we’re ending that now too.
In the 1930s the Labor force participation rate was almost 20% higher (https://www.dol.gov/agencies/wb/data/lfp/US-Workforce-Since-1920). Then you factor in the underemployment and gig work you mentioned as well as how inflation has been a lie since the 1990s, and I’m not sure things sucked “MUCH” harder in economic terms. We do have better toys thanks to 80 years of NSF and other government funded science, but we’re ending that now too.