There's nothing in the article about the manufacturing base in these countries.  I bet they still retained a decent number of factories and still produce items of value--whereas most of our factories packed up and left.  It means that people without a college education have only low-paying jobs to choose from, and many of those jobs were taken by illegals.  Many better-paying jobs were given to aliens or outsourced as well.  I read there are now a minimum of 6 applicants for every job opening and I bet that number is underestimated.  When a new Burger King advertises for 15 jobs and 1500 show up, you know we are screwed.