An issue creating social tension in the United States is the disappearance of manufacturing jobs, which often earn people a good living. As this industry has slowed, cities that once had many opportunities now offer a lot of low-wage jobs with little advancement. How does relative deprivation help explain why those working in these regions are so frustrated?

While people may have jobs, they make less money than they did before.

It does not, absolute deprivation is more useful in interpreting this dynamic.

Even when there were manufacturing jobs available, people still struggled.

Cultural shifts always cause some resentment, and that is the basis of relative deprivation.