DISCLAIMER: I AM NOT A SOCIOLOGY STUDENT
Regardless of how hard people work, they simply cannot get to the top because of how the economical and social system is setup. Small businesses do not get enough funding or support from the community and majority of them actually end up failing immediately after they start. Also, minimum wage is extremely low and it is extremely hard to provide for a family with that much money. There are also people in higher pay jobs attempting to pay off student debts (because they went to college) while also surviving and living and accomplishing things they dreamed of when they were in college.
ngl tho if i was a real sociology student i'd pull up a chart bc, yes, those are the kind of stuff i have saved on my computer lol