Good morning! It’s Daniel de Visé bringing you your Daily Money updates.

Larry Freudenberg recalls the first house he bought with his wife, Marsha, shortly after their college graduation. It was a one-story home with an unfinished upper level and cedar siding. “To us, it felt like a palace,” he shared.

The concept of a starter home has been a common route for many Americans looking to enter the housing market. They start with a smaller and more affordable house, build equity, and then aspire to move into a larger, more luxurious, or better-located property.

However, in the competitive housing landscape of 2024, the idea of a starter home may seem outdated.

Increasing job struggles for Americans

Samantha Griswold graduated with a fashion merchandising degree in May 2023 and anticipated finding work by summer.

Her diligent job search yielded results; she averaged about three interviews each week and frequently advanced to the second round. However, she struggled to get beyond that stage. After 20 months of searching, she finally accepted a merchandising job at Saks Fifth Avenue last month, but the lengthy process took its toll.

As Labor Day approaches, Paul Davidson notes that the job market, once booming from ongoing post-pandemic worker shortages, has significantly slowed down.

Ford scales back on DEI initiatives

Recently, Ford Motor Co. informed its employees that it will no longer take part in a yearly survey by an LGBTQ advocacy group and will not implement quotas for minority suppliers and dealerships, as reported by Jessica Guynn.

This move marks Ford as the latest company to alter its diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts amid increasing pressure from conservative activists leading an anti-DEI movement.