I’M SOLEDAD O’BRIEN. WELCOME TO MATTER OF FACT, THIS LABOR DAY WEEKEND. WE’RE TALKING ABOUT JOBS, THE SUCCESSES AND CHALLENGES OF WORKING AMERICANS. WE START WITH HOME HEALTH CARE WORKERS LIKE JOAN KESTER, WHO WORKS LONG HOURS FOR LITTLE PAY. I CUT BACK ON MY FOOD. I DON’T GO SHOPPING BECAUSE I CAN’T AFFORD TO. SHE KNOWS HER CLIENTS NEED HER HELP. SHE’S MY LIFESAVER. I’M SERIOUS. WHAT CAN BE DONE TO SUPPORT THE PEOPLE PROVIDING SUPPORT TO OTHERS? AND SHE’S BREAKING NEW GROUND WITH HER CAREER. I CAN TAKE A TIRE OFF IN ABOUT A SECOND. ONE SECOND? YES. OH MY GOD. ME TOO. NO. I’M KIDDING. MY CONVERSATION WITH BRIANNA DANIELS, NASCAR’S FIRST BLACK FEMALE TIRE CHANGER. PLUS, A LOOK AT A NEW APPROACH TO JOB TRAINING THAT’S HELPING SOME PEOPLE DOUBLE THEIR INCOME. YEAH, I MEAN, I DON’T SEE WHAT ELSE WOULD BE THE AMERICAN DREAM. YOU KNOW, GOING FROM $20,000 A YEAR TO 41 PLUS A YEAR IN FIVE WEEKS WITH JUST A LITTLE HARD WORK. THOSE STORIES RIGHT NOW ON MATTER OF FACT. ACROSS THE COUNTRY, THERE’S A DIRE SHORTAGE OF HOME HEALTH CARE WORKERS. IN 2023, KFF SURVEYED ALL 50 STATES EACH ONE WITH THE EXCEPTION OF FLORIDA, WHICH DIDN’T RESPOND, REPORTED HAVING A SHORTAGE OF CARE WORKERS, INCLUDING HOME HEALTH AIDES. DEMAND FOR THESE WORKERS IS ONLY GOING TO INCREASE AS THE POPULATION OF OLDER AMERICANS CONTINUES TO GROW, BUT WITH LOW WAGES, FEW BENEFITS AND NO PAID TIME OFF, RECRUITING AND RETAINING HOME HEALTH AIDES IS DIFFICULT. NORTH CAROLINA RANKS NEAR THE BOTTOM WHEN IT COMES TO SUPPORT FOR THESE WORKERS. OUR CORRESPONDENT DAN LIEBERMAN TRAVELED THERE TO HEAR FIRSTHAND FROM CLIENTS AND CAREGIVERS. SHE’S MY LIFESAVER. I’M SERIOUS. 80 YEAR OLD SALLY HAUCK HAS A SPECIAL BOND WITH JOAN KESTER, WHO’S BEEN HER HOME HEALTH CARE AIDE FOR THE LAST SEVEN YEARS. I’VE HAD TWO MAJOR OPERATIONS ON MY BACK AND THREE ON MY NECK, AND ONE ON MY HAND AND ONE ON MY ARM. IT’S REALLY TOUGH. SALLY SUFFERED A DEBILITATING BACK INJURY IN 2016 WITH NO FAMILY NEARBY TO CARE FOR HER. SHE WAS PAIRED WITH JOAN THROUGH A LOCAL HOME CARE AGENCY. I DO THIS JOB BECAUSE I CAN GIVE CARE AND COMPASSION TO THE ELDERLY THAT DESERVE TO BE CARED FOR. JOAN IS A CERTIFIED NURSING ASSISTANT WITH THREE DECADES OF EXPERIENCE. SHE WORKS 70 HOURS A WEEK, SEVEN DAYS A WEEK, TAKING CARE OF FIVE CLIENTS FOR $14 AN HOUR. YOU CAN GO OUT THERE AND FIND A JOB AT MCDONALD’S, MAKING MORE THAN YOU CAN FOR HOME HEALTH. HOME CARE WORKERS ARE, IN SHORT SUPPLY HERE IN WILMINGTON, NORTH CAROLINA, WHERE, LIKE SO MUCH OF THE COUNTRY, A TIGHT LABOR MARKET AND INCREASINGLY HIGH COST OF LIVING IS MAKING IT HARD TO ATTRACT WORKERS. SO WE’RE ON TONS OF DIFFERENT JOB BOARDS AT BAYADA HOME HEALTH CARE AGENCY LOOKING FOR STAFF IS A FULL TIME JOB FOR DIRECTOR MATTHEW HANNIGAN, WITH A STAFF OF 100. HE NEEDS TWICE AS MANY WORKERS ALMOST EVERY DAY. SOMEBODY EITHER GOES WITHOUT CARE OR THEIR SCHEDULE IS AFFECTED. WHY IS IT SO HARD TO FIND PEOPLE TO DO THIS JOB? IT’S A HARD JOB. THAT’S THE THING WE SORT OF LIVE AND DIE, I GUESS, BY OUR REIMBURSEMENT RATES THAT WE GET BACK. HE’S TALKING ABOUT MEDICAID REIMBURSEMENT RATES SET BY EACH STATE AND PAID FOR WITH A MIX OF FEDERAL AND STATE DOLLARS. THAT RATE DETERMINES WHAT AGENCIES CAN PAY WORKERS BY THE HOUR. HOW DO YOU GET BY? I CUT BACK ON GOING PLACES OTHER THAN WORK. I CUT BACK WITH MY FOOD, GOING SHOPPING. I DON’T GO SHOPPING BECAUSE I CAN’T AFFORD TO. THERE IS A CRISIS. KEZIA SCALES IS AN EXPERT ON THE DIRECT CARE WORKFORCE FOR PHI, A RESEARCH INSTITUTION FOCUSED ON IMPROVING ELDER CARE AND DISABILITY SERVICES. WORKFORCE PROJECTIONS SUGGEST THAT WE’RE GOING TO NEED NEARLY A MILLION NEW WORKERS TO MEET DEMAND IN OUR CULTURE. IS THERE THIS IDEA THAT IF IT’S YOUR FAMILY MEMBER, YOU SHOULD TAKE CARE OF YOUR OWN FAMILY? THIS RESPONSIBILITY DOESN’T REALLY FALL ON TAXPAYERS, FAMILY CAREGIVERS PROVIDE THE LION’S SHARE OF LONG TERM CARE, LONG TERM SUPPORTS, BUT FAMILIES CANNOT DO IT ALL. SOME SOME INDIVIDUALS DON’T HAVE FAMILIES CLOSE BY. THERE IS ALSO A ROLE FOR FOR PUBLIC POLICY TO TO MEET NEEDS THAT ARE NOT ALREADY MET BY FAMILY CAREGIVERS. SALLY HAWK’S CHILDREN LIVE OUT OF STATE, SO SHE FEELS LUCKY TO HAVE JOAN IN HER LIFE. YOU HAVE CHILDREN, BUT WHY IS IT IMPORTANT TO STILL HAVE JOAN EVERY DAY? BECAUSE THEY’RE NOT HERE. I’M BY MYSELF. I WOULDN’T HAVE ANY WAY TO GET GROCERIES OR ANYTHING. I FEEL LIKE I’M A BURDEN TO HER SOMETIMES BECAUSE I NEED HER SO MUCH. I’M A PROUD PERSON FOR MATTER OF FACT, I’M DAN LIEBERMAN IN WILMINGTON, NORTH CAROLINA NEXT ON MATTER OF FACT, SHE WENT FROM NEVER HAVING WATCHED A NASCAR RACE TO MAKING HISTORY AT NASCAR. WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE THING ABOUT YOUR JOB? MY JOB IS JUST INSPIRING. HOW BREHANNA DANIELS TOOK HER SKILLS ON THE BASKETBALL COURT TO THE RACETRACK. PLUS, WE TAKE A LOOK AT WHICH WORKERS ARE SEEING THE BIGGEST PAY INCREASES THIS YEAR AND A PROGRAM IN OHIO IS CLOSING A SKILLS GAP BY TRAINING PEOPLE TO BECOME BIG RIG MECHANICS. WE’LL SHOW YOU HOW IT WORKS AND THE INNOVATIVE WAY IT’S BEING FUNDED. YOU’RE WATCHING, MATTER OF FACT, AMERICA’S NUMBER ONE NATIONALLY SYNDICATED PUBLIC AFFAIRS NEWS AS WE MARK THIS LABOR DAY WEEKEND, A STORY OF A YOUNG WOMAN CHARTING A NEW PATH FOR HERSELF AND OTHERS. IN 2016, BRIANNA DANIELS WAS A SENIOR IN COLLEGE, PLAYING BASKETBALL AT NORFOLK STATE UNIVERSITY WITH A GOAL OF TURNING PROFESSIONAL. BUT ALL THAT CHANGED WHEN NASCAR’S DRIVE FOR DIVERSITY PROGRAM VISITED HER SCHOOL. THEY WERE TRYING TO RECRUIT MORE DIVERSE PIT CREWS AND DRIVERS, AND THEY ASKED DANIELS IF SHE WOULD GIVE NASCAR A SHOT. EVEN THOUGH SHE ADMITTEDLY DIDN’T KNOW MUCH ABOUT THE SPORT. DANIELS TOOK THE CHANCE AND BECAME NASCAR’S FIRST BLACK FEMALE TIRE CHANGER. SO NICE TO HAVE YOU. WHAT A PLEASURE. I’M A BIG FAN. I LOVE BEING HERE. THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME. WE APPRECIATE IT. SO WE SAID, YOU’RE A TIRE CHANGER, WHICH SOUNDS LIKE INCREDIBLY SIMPLE AND STRAIGHTFORWARD. BUT THEN YOU WATCH NASCAR AND YOU THINK IT’S KIND OF LIKE ORGANIZED CHAOS. AND THE PACE IS FRANTIC. SO I’M A REAR TIRE CHANGER. I’M RESPONSIBLE FOR THE TWO BACK TIRES. THERE’S A FRONT TIRE CHANGER. WE HAVE A JACK MAN, A GAS MAN, AND EVERYTHING IS REALLY, LIKE FAST DURING THIS PIT STOP. SO I HAVE MY IMPACT WRENCH AND I’M LIKE, ZIP ZIP ZIP ZIP ZIP PULLING THE TIRE OFF AND I PRETTY MUCH I CAN TAKE A TIRE OFF IN ABOUT A SECOND, ONE SECOND. YES. IT JUST SOUNDS ABSOLUTELY CHAOTIC. HOW DOES THAT COORDINATION WORK? THERE’S SO MUCH GOING ON, BUT WE HAVE TO BE YOU KNOW, CONTROL AT EASE, POISED. AND OUR DIFFERENT SPORTS BACKGROUNDS ALLOW US TO BE ABLE TO JUST COME TOGETHER AND GET IT DONE. OH THAT’S INTERESTING. WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE DEMOGRAPHICS OF NASCAR, I THINK FROM 2014, THEY DID A STUDY AND THEY FOUND THAT 60% OF NASCAR WAS WHITE. YES, 80% OF NASCAR FANS WERE MALE. AND I HAVE TO IMAGINE THAT AS A BLACK WOMAN WORKING IN THE PIT LIKE THAT, THOSE ARE NOT YOUR DEMOGRAPHICS. REALLY. THAT WAS ALSO TOO LIKE ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WAS HOLDING ME BACK. I’M LIKE, WHY WOULD I JOIN A SPORT WHERE THERE’S NOT THAT MANY PEOPLE THAT LOOK LIKE ME? AND THEN I STARTED THINKING BIGGER. I’M LIKE, THIS IS BIGGER THAN ME. LET ME, YOU KNOW, MAKE THIS HISTORY NOW SO I CAN BE PAVING THE WAY FOR THE NEXT GENERATION. SOMETIMES BEING THE FIRST, THOUGH, IS IS LONELY AND AND STRESSFUL, FRANKLY. WAS IT FOR YOU? YES, IT WAS SUPER HARD FOR ME JUST BEING OUT THERE. YOU KNOW, THE GUYS NOT REALLY TAKING YOU SERIOUS. THEY’RE LIKE, OH, SHE DOESN’T WANT TO BE HERE. SHE CAN’T DO THIS. AND IT’S LIKE I’M THINKING IN MY HEAD, LIKE, JUST WATCH ME, WATCH ME. HAVE YOU SEEN THE DEMOGRAPHICS CHANGE BOTH IN THE PIT AND ALSO IN THE AUDIENCE? YES. OH MY GOD, YOU’RE YOU’RE NODDING YOUR HEAD LIKE THAT IS A STUPID QUESTION. SOLEDAD. NO, NO, IT’S NOT. DEFINITELY. AND I LOVE TO SEE THAT CHANGE JUST STARTING LIKE IN 2020 WHEN ALL THAT STUFF WAS GOING ON. YOU KNOW, WITH THE BLACK LIVES MATTER MOVEMENT. AND I’VE LITERALLY SEEN MORE PEOPLE OF COLOR WATCHING THE SPORT, MORE PEOPLE REACHING OUT TO ME SAYING LIKE, GIRL, YOU KNOW, MY FAMILY NEVER WATCHED NASCAR, BUT WE WATCHED IT NOW BECAUSE OF YOU. YOU KNOW, I’M SEEING MORE PEOPLE OF COLOR IN THE STANDS AND IN THE PITS. THERE HAS BEEN A MASSIVE PUSHBACK ON DEI AND DIVERSITY OVERALL. WHEN I SAW THAT, I WAS LIKE, ARE YOU SERIOUS? IT’S JUST CRAZY TO ME. SO YOU’RE NOT GETTING ANY SENSE THAT NASCAR IS STEPPING BACK BECAUSE SOME ORGANIZATIONS ARE. I HOPE NOT. YOU KNOW, I’M STILL HOPING FOR MORE OPPORTUNITIES TO BE PRESENTED TO WOMEN, YOU KNOW, ON THE CUP SIDE, YOU KNOW, WOMEN OF COLOR JUST ALL THOSE THINGS, LIKE, WE REALLY NEED THAT AS SOMEONE WHO’D NEVER EVEN WATCHED NASCAR BEFORE, YOU GOT THE GIG, WHAT HAVE YOU LEARNED ABOUT NASCAR? I LEARNED THAT, YOU KNOW, WELL, A LOT OF PEOPLE, THEY DON’T THINK THAT, YOU KNOW, PIT CREW MEMBERS ARE ATHLETES AND I WAS ONE OF THOSE PEOPLE. I GOT TO ADMIT, YOU KNOW, I STILL GET THAT ADRENALINE RUSH, YOU KNOW, THAT I GOT PLAYING BASKETBALL. YOU KNOW, HAVING HUNDREDS AND THOUSANDS OF FANS WATCHING US WHILE WE’RE PERFORMING, DOING OUR JOBS, RUNNING IN FRONT OF MOVING CARS, JUMPING IN FRONT OF MOVING CARS FOR A LIVING. DO YOU FEEL LIKE YOU’RE A HISTORY MAKER? YEAH, I FEEL LIKE I’VE DEFINITELY, YOU KNOW, I PAVED THE WAY FOR OTHERS IN THE SPORT, AND YOU KNOW, I FEEL LIKE I WAS THE PERFECT PERSON TO BE IN THAT POSITION. SOMEBODY WOULD REALLY, REALLY TOUGH SKIN BECAUSE IT IS VERY, VERY TOUGH BEING THE VERY FIRST TO DO SOMETHING. WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE THING ABOUT YOUR JOB? JUST INSPIRING. YOU KNOW, JUST WHEN PARENTS CONTACT ME ON SOCIAL MEDIA, SENDING ME VIDEOS OF THEIR DAUGHTER OR THEIR SON, YOU KNOW, AND SITTING IN FRONT OF A TIRE LIKE, LOOK AT MY DAUGHTER TRYING TO CHANGE TIRES LIKE YOU. YOU KNOW, SHE SAYS SHE WANTS TO BE LIKE YOU WHEN SHE GROWS UP. JUST, JUST IT’S SO REWARDING HEARING THINGS LIKE THAT. I’M REPRESENTING WELL, YOU KNOW, BECAUSE REPRESENTATION DOES MATTER. YEAH. IT REALLY DOES. BRIANNA DANIELS, IT’S SO NICE TO HAVE YOU IN STUDIO. THANK YOU. THANKS FOR JOINING ME. THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME. COMING UP, MILLIONS OF EMPLOYERS ARE DESPERATE FOR SKILLED WORKERS. OUR CHALLENGE IS REALLY WE DON’T HAVE ENOUGH STUDENTS HERE IN OUR FACILITY TO SATISFY EMPLOYER DEMAND. WE TAKE A LOOK AT AN INNOVATIVE PROGRAM THAT’S GETTING TRAINED WORKERS INTO HIGH DEMAND JOBS. PLUS, AMERICANS ARE MAKING MORE MONEY EVEN IF IT DOESN’T ALWAYS FEEL THAT WAY. WE BREAK DOWN, WHICH INDUSTRIES ARE SEEING THE BIGGEST PAY GAINS. IN THE TRUCKING INDUSTRY, NEEDS WORKERS. IT’S ESTIMATED THAT THERE ARE ABOUT 30,000 OPEN POSITIONS IN THE INDUSTRY EACH YEAR, BUT THERE IS A BIG SKILLS GAP JOB SEEKERS DON’T ALWAYS HAVE THE RIGHT QUALIFICATIONS AND INNOVATIVE TRAINING COURSE FOR DIESEL MECHANICS AND TECHNICIANS IS TRYING TO FIX THAT. OUR CORRESPONDENT JESS GOMEZ TRAVELED TO COLUMBUS, OHIO TO SEE HOW THE PROGRAM NOT ONLY TRAINS CANDIDATES, BUT THEN HELPS THEM LAND SECURE JOBS. EVERY DAY. I DON’T KNOW WHAT I’M GOING TO GET HANDED. IT’S LIKE A BIG PUZZLE, YOU KNOW, IT’S PROBLEM SOLVING. CAM, JUDY. LESS THAN A MONTH INTO A BRAND NEW JOB AS A DIESEL TECHNICIAN IN COLUMBUS, OHIO. OVER THE PAST YEAR, A LOT HAS CHANGED FOR THE 28 YEAR OLD. YOU KIND OF HAVE THAT PIT IN YOUR STOMACH. LIKE, HOW AM I GOING TO TAKE CARE OF MY FAMILY? CAM WAS LIVING IN WEST VIRGINIA WHEN THE PANDEMIC STARTED. HIS WIFE LOST HER CORPORATE JOB AND HIS JOB AS A CHIROPRACTIC ASSISTANT WASN’T ENOUGH TO PAY THE BILLS. I STARTED LOOKING AT WHAT CAN I DO TO HAVE THAT ADVANCEMENT IN SOMETHING I ENJOY DOING. SO WE NEED TO KNOW OUR BATTERY HEALTH. THAT’S WHEN HE FOUND AMERICAN DIESEL TRAINING CENTERS IN COLUMBUS, OFFERING A FIVE WEEK TRAINING PROGRAM WITH NO UPFRONT TUITION COSTS AND HELP WITH THINGS LIKE TRANSPORTATION AND LIVING EXPENSES. I WAS LIKE, THIS IS TOO GOOD TO BE TRUE. I. MY GRANDFATHER WORKED IN THE AUTOMOTIVE INDUSTRY FOR 30 YEARS, WORKING ON CARS. THERE’S NO WAY I CAN LEARN ANYTHING THAT HE KNOWS IN FIVE WEEKS. AND THEN GET. AND PEOPLE ARE GOING TO HIRE ME. BUT IN AN INDUSTRY WITH TENS OF THOUSANDS OF JOB OPENINGS, EVEN BEFORE GRADUATING FROM THE PROGRAM, CAM HAD MULTIPLE OFFERS. HE’S NOW MAKING NEARLY $42,000 A YEAR AT KENWORTH TRUCKS, MORE THAN DOUBLE WHAT HE WAS MAKING JUST A FEW MONTHS AGO. SO IT ALLOWS PEOPLE TO VERY QUICKLY WITH VERY LITTLE RISK TO ELEVATE THEIR SOCIOECONOMIC STATUS. SOMETIMES EXPONENTIALLY. HAVE YOU GOT INTERVIEWS SET UP? OFFERS? TIM SPURLOCK, CEO OF THE TRAINING PROGRAM, SAYS HIS BIGGEST CHALLENGE IS RECRUITING STUDENTS. MOST ARE LOW WAGE EARNERS WHO CAN’T AFFORD THE $10,000 TUITION OR TO TAKE TIME OFF OF THEIR CURRENT JOBS. AND MANY DON’T HAVE THE CREDIT TO GET A LOAN. SO OVER FOUR YEARS, THAT’S A PAYMENT MAX OF 13,000. BUT RECENTLY THEY FOUND A SOLUTION PARTNERING WITH SOCIAL FINANCE, A FINANCIAL NONPROFIT HEADQUARTERED IN BOSTON. THE AMERICAN DREAM HASN’T WORKED FOR EVERYONE, BUT IT USED TO WORK MUCH BETTER. THE NONPROFIT, CO-FOUNDED BY TRACY PALANDJIAN, RAISES MONEY FROM PHILANTHROPIC FOUNDATIONS AND USES IT TO HELP PAY STUDENTS TUITION AT TRAINING PROGRAMS LIKE AMERICAN DIESEL. BUT IT’S NOT A DONATION. IT’S AN INVESTMENT. THIS IS HOW IT WORKS AT AMERICAN DIESEL FOR EXAMPLE, GRADUATES WHO DON’T GET A JOB OR MAKE LESS THAN $30,000 A YEAR ARE OFF THE HOOK FOR THE COST OF THEIR $10,000 TUITION. THOSE MAKING BETWEEN 30 AND 40,000 PAY BACK ABOUT 70% OF THEIR TUITION COSTS IN CAPPED MONTHLY PAYMENTS EARNERS, BRINGING IN $40,000 OR MORE PAY IT BACK IN FULL, PLUS AN ADDITIONAL $3,000. THEY GET SICK OR LOSE THEIR JOB. THEY DON’T PAY. THE INVESTORS ARE TAKING ON A HUGE RISK. THEY KNOW THAT THEY MIGHT ONLY GET THEIR PRINCIPAL BACK. AND IF IT’S A REALLY TOUGH ECONOMY, THEY MIGHT ONLY GET $0.80 ON THE DOLLAR BACK. SOCIAL FINANCE RAISING ENOUGH TO PARTNER WITH A HANDFUL OF IT TRAINING PROGRAMS AS WELL, AND WILL SOON BRANCH OUT INTO SECTORS LIKE HEALTH CARE AND GREEN ENERGY IN DESPERATE NEED OF A SKILLED WORKFORCE. WE ALL HAVE SKIN IN THE GAME. IF WE DON’T RECRUIT QUALITY PEOPLE, GIVE THEM GOOD TRAINING AND PUT THEM OUT INTO INDUSTRY. WORKING IN SUCCESSFUL JOBS AND MAKING PAYMENTS, SOCIAL FINANCE WILL FIND ANOTHER PROGRAM TO INVEST IN. FOR CAM JUDY, HIS NEW CAREER PLAYING OUT EVEN BETTER THAN HE EXPECTED. HIS WIFE AND FURNITURE ON THEIR WAY TO OHIO, LOOKING TOWARD SETTLING DOWN, BUYING A HOUSE, DOING THE ADULT THINGS. THE AMERICAN DREAM STUFF. YOU KNOW? SO WE’RE JUST EXCITED ABOUT OUR FUTURE IN COLUMBUS, OHIO, FOR MATTER OF FACT, I’M JESSICA GOMEZ. AHEAD ON MATTER OF FACT, WHO’S GETTING A RAISE THIS YEAR AND WHO ISN’T. THE NEW RESULTS OF A SURVEY THAT TRACKS WAGE TRENDS. PLUS, THIS HULA INSTRUCTOR BEAT OUT SCIENTISTS AND ENGINEERS AND LEGAL SCHOLARS TO WIN A MACARTHUR FOUNDATION FELLOWSHIP. WE’LL CHECK IN TO SEE HOW HE’S DOING NOW TO STAY UP TO DATE WITH MATTER OF FACT, SIGN UP FOR OUR NEWSLETTER ATWELCOME BACK TO ANNUAL WAGE GROWTH HAS SLOWED TO JUST OVER 4% AFTER A HIGH OF NEARLY 6% IN 2022. THAT’S ACCORDING TO THE FEDERAL RESERVE BANK OF SAINT LOUIS. THAT PACE IS STILL FASTER THAN IN 2019. AT THE BEGINNING OF THE YEAR. AND MATTER OF FACT, WE BROKE DOWN WHO WAS MAKING MORE IN 2023. WE NOW HAVE NEW NUMBERS SHOWING WHO MADE MORE MONEY IN THE SECOND QUARTER OF THIS YEAR, 2024. PAYSCALE IS A SOFTWARE AND DATA COMPANY THAT TRACKS COMPENSATION. THEIR LATEST NUMBERS SHOW THE INDUSTRIES THAT HAD THE BIGGEST INCREASES IN WAGES, SO TOPPING THAT LIST, PEOPLE WHO WORK IN EDUCATION LIKE TEACHERS AND TRAINERS. THERE WAS A TIE FOR SECOND PLACE. PEOPLE WHO WORK FOR AGENCIES AND CONSULTANCIES LIKE ADVERTISERS, TIED WITH PEOPLE WHO WORK FOR NONPROFITS THAT TIE AT SECOND PLACE MEANS WE SKIP TO FOURTH PLACE. ARTS, ENTERTAINMENT, RECREATION. ALL ONE CATEGORY. BY THE WAY, CAME IN FOURTH. ANOTHER TIE AT FIFTH PLACE. PEOPLE WHO WORK IN REAL ESTATE TIED WITH THOSE IN RETAIL AND CUSTOMER SERVICE. SO THE BOTTOM OF THE LIST FINANCE AND INSURANCE, HEALTHCARE, MANUFACTURING, CONSTRUCTION AND TECHNOLOGY, THE UNEMPLOYMENT RATE IS STILL RELATIVELY LOW AT 4.3%, THOUGH RECENTLY ADJUSTED FIGURES SHOWED THAT THE JOB MARKET IS SLOWING. STILL AHEAD ON MATTER OF FACT, HOW THIS HULUIKA INSTRUCTOR CONTINUES TO FIND NEW WAYS TO HONOR HAWAIIAN CULTURE AND FINALLY, WE END OUR LABOR DAY SHOW ON A LABOR OF LOVE. PATRICK MAKUAKANE BROKE INTO NATIONAL HEADLINES IN 2023 AS THE HULA INSTRUCTOR WHO WON A MACARTHUR FOUNDATION GENIUS GRANT. MAKUAKANE IS A CULTURAL PRESERVATIONIST, A NATIVE OF HAWAII, HE’S LIVED AND WORKED IN SAN FRANCISCO SINCE THE 1980S. HE TEACHES THE CENTURIES OLD SPIRITUAL DANCE, BUT THAT INSTRUCTION DOESN’T JUST ADHERE TO TRADITION. HE’S INTRODUCING FRESH INTERPRETATIONS OF HULA PAIRING IT WITH TECHNO, CLASSICAL, HOUSE MUSIC, AND HIS TEACHINGS HAVE PURPOSE, UPLIFTING HAWAIIAN CULTURE AND LANGUAGE, WHILE CARVING SPACES FOR NEW STORIES TO BE TOLD. I LOVE HAWAIIAN MUSIC AND I CHOREOGRAPH AND TELL STORIES A LOT WITH HAWAIIAN MUSIC, BUT THERE’S MORE TO THE WORLD THAN JUST THAT, AND WE HAVE IMPORTANT STORIES THAT NEED TO GET OUT. AND I THINK IN A LANGUAGE THAT PEOPLE UNDERSTAND SO THAT IT WILL HIT THEM BETTER. NOW HE’S PARTNERING WITH THE HAWAII OPERA THEATER FOR THE FIRST EVER PROFESSIONAL HAWAIIAN OPERA. IT’S CALLED THE SHELTERING TREE, AND IT TELLS THE STORY OF PIVOTAL MOMENTS IN HAWAIIAN HISTORY. YOU’LL BE ABLE TO CATCH THAT SHOW IN MAY 2026. THAT’S IT FOR THIS EDITION OF MATTER OF FACT, I’M SOLEDAD O’BRIEN. I’LL SEE YOU BACK HERE NEXT WEEK TO WATCH MORE STORIES LIKE THIS ANYTIME, HEAD TO MATTEROFFACTTV.