Winston-Salem from the best general view
[Winston-Salem, NC]
Across the small skyline you'll find the headquarters for BB&T, Wells Fargo, GMAC, Hanes Brands, and tobacco giant Reynolds American.
North Carolina is experiencing a wildly widening income gap. Since the 1980s the average income of the poorest 20% increased from $14,961 to $16,436. This is an increase of $87 each year or $1,474 over nearly forty years. Meanwhile the average income of the richest 5% of families increased from $125,102 to $197,331 for an increase of $4,249 per year and a whopping $72,229 over time. While any economy will see stark differences in income between it highest and lowest earners, communities like Winston-Salem that grew wealthy by employing low-skill workers at competitive wages are feeling the burden of the shift to an outsourced economy centered on information technologies.