On average, wage growth has outstripped inflation in the last 2.5 years
fair
so most people are better off, income-wise
This doesn't necessarily follow. Is it possible to run inflation vs wage growth for the bottom 2/3 of earners? Top-heavy growth could distort the data.
I really only know lower-middle-class (family) and and upper-middle-class people (professional acquaintances). The lower-middle-class people I know do seem to be doing better since pre-covid (some had their unions negotiate decent wage increases, some got promotions into superivisory roles, some switched jobs with a big pay bump). The upper-middle-class people I know are doing much better, until maybe recently (some have been laid-off, but they may still come back on top).
I do not currently know anybody with 2 jobs. I know people who work lots of overtime to increase their income though. I'm not saying the poor and lower-middle-class shouldn't be making more money, I'm just saying they're doing a bit better, on average. Real wages have not been stagnating or declining like they have in many long periods in the past.