Looking at the Industry Sectors of the US economy can help illuminate why, over the last 30 years, someone working in a growing industry (like Finance) may have done better than someone working in a shrinking industry (like Manufacture). Note: the data measures value-added; for example the services provided by a doctor is counted under Heath Care but the production of medical equipment would be found in Manufacture. {Click on the graph to take a closer look}
The Industry Sectors data can be found at Economic Report of the President 2007 Report Spreadsheets Table B-12.
