In a bit of news that probably surprises no one, Americans made less money last year than they did the year before, the Bureau of Economic Analysis said Tuesday morning. Total compensation of U.S. workers shrank 3.2 percent in 2009. Blame it on declines in manufacturing and construction industries, the bureau said.

Just to be clear, compensation is the income companies pay employees for their work, as well as supplements such as contributions to pension and insurance funds. Employers, not employees, report compensation. So if you’re getting paid by your father to pick up leaves clogging the gutter in the rain, you probably aren’t counted in this study.